Waitrose partners with Just Eat for a strategic on-demand delivery expansion.
- More than 229 Waitrose locations offer 30-minute delivery through Just Eat.
- Waitrose sees a 140% rise in weekly on-demand sales early this year.
- Over a million Brits regularly use Just Eat for grocery deliveries.
- Just Eat underscores the necessity of speed in modern consumer expectations.
Waitrose has announced a strategic partnership with rapid delivery service Just Eat, reflecting a significant push into the on-demand grocery and convenience sectors. This collaboration allows customers to select from thousands of Waitrose items, which will be delivered within a 30-minute window, sourced from over 229 Waitrose locations across major UK cities including Birmingham, Glasgow, London, Manchester, and Stirling.
The decision comes as Waitrose observes a noteworthy increase in on-demand grocery sales, which have risen by 140% in the first six weeks of the year. This partnership aims to provide a seamless shopping experience for more than one million Britons who regularly utilise Just Eat for grocery delivery. Notably, Just Eat’s delivery network operates efficiently, fulfilling 12 grocery orders every minute in the previous year.
Customers will have access to a wide array of Waitrose’s offerings, including both the refined premium No.1 range and the budget-friendly Essential range. Later in the year, Just Eat will also feature over 550 Christmas products from Waitrose, which includes 175 brand-new items debuting in 2024.
James Bailey, Waitrose’s executive director, remarked that the demand and expectations for convenience in food are continuously evolving, with Waitrose poised to meet this challenge. Partnering with Just Eat is seen as an opportunity to reach a broader audience, maintaining Waitrose’s trademark commitment to quality, taste, and ethical standards in their offerings.
Claire Pointon, the Just Eat UK and Ireland managing director, emphasised that speed has become a necessity for many consumers rather than a luxury. Moreover, Just Eat’s research suggests that the integration of on-demand grocery services will soon become an everyday aspect for users. This partnership with Waitrose enriches the consumer’s choice and value on their platform, offering services that meet the demands of contemporary lifestyles.
In a related development, Waitrose has declared its intention to open up to 100 convenience stores across the UK within the next five years, further cementing its footprint in the convenience space.
This collaboration between Waitrose and Just Eat highlights the evolving consumer expectations and the retail strategies adapting to meet these demands efficiently.
