Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Waitrose & Partners has announced plans to treble the size of its online grocery operation to £1 billion over the next three years.
Working in partnership with Today Development Partners (TDP), the supermarket chain said the move will significant increase its capacity and automation. Waitrose.com and TDP intend to develop three state-of-the-art automated customer fulfilment centres (CFCs).
The Waitrose.com service is currently provided through a combination of from-branch deliveries, a Coulsdon fulfilment centre in south London which opened in 2015, and a planned second CFC to serve the north London area.
To lead this growth in online, retail director Ben Stimson has been appointed digital director with immediate effect, and will manage the new relationship with TDP.
Waitrose & Partners managing director Rob Collins commented: “Waitrose.com is a popular and efficient home delivery service that is already growing strongly ahead of the market. These plans represent a clear commitment to achieve rapid step-change in Waitrose.com’s capacity and capability, as we build a modern, well-invested digital business that is fit for the future.
“The development of our new CFCs will triple our delivery capacity, bringing our well-loved service and delicious food to more customers across the UK and setting Waitrose.com on the path to becoming a £1 billion turnover business.”
