All posts tagged: Waitrose

Wonky Waitrose billboard fenced off by London council as stunt backfires | Waitrose

Wonky Waitrose billboard fenced off by London council as stunt backfires | Waitrose

Published by skeptic

A Waitrose billboard erected in a wonky fashion as a marketing stunt was fenced off by council staff amid public safety fears. The retailer erected an askew billboard on Lindore Road, in Wandsworth, south-west London, in a nod to its falling prices. The billboard, depicting a downwards arrow flanked either side by food items, was accompanied bytext that read: “Well, this is good – new lower prices on hundreds of your favourites.” While the message to customers was that prices were on the way down, this did not translate across the board, with public concern prompting Wandsworth council to erect fencing around the billboard. The move provoked a lighthearted reaction from the retailer on X. In a post, which tagged the council, it said: “Thanks for the swift action but while our prices are falling rapidly, our billboard certainly isn’t!” In a separate post to the official Specsavers X account, Waitrose asked: “One for you guys?” The council confirmed to the Guardian on Saturday that the barriers had since been removed. A council spokesperson said: …

I did my ‘big shop’ at Waitrose and M&S – here’s who came out on top

I did my ‘big shop’ at Waitrose and M&S – here’s who came out on top

Published by Sam

Waitrose vs M&S It’s shopping trolleys at dawn for Britain’s most aspirational supermarkets. Marks & Spencer – traditionally an also-ran in the grocery league table – has been chipping away at Waitrose’s customer base, so that last month for the first time the two drew neck and neck, claiming 3.8 per cent of the market each. Yes, it’s a long way from Tesco, which commands over a quarter of the market share, and which with the rest of the big six – Sainsbury’s, Asda, Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons – dominates our grocery spend. But M&S and Waitrose are scrabbling for the same middle- and upper-class customer, people who can afford to spend a little more on higher welfare meat and Italian peaches as well as (whisper it) wanting artisan loaves without the hassle of queuing at the bakers. But while food inflation may be slowing, the effects of the cost of living crisis are still with us. Food prices are 25 per cent higher than they were two years ago. Even Waitrose and M&S shoppers …

Why full-fat milk and dairy was better for us all along

Why full-fat milk and dairy was better for us all along

Published by Sam

Cartons of milk “It’s the young people, apparently,” said the elderly man at my elbow, crouched – like I was – on the floor of Waitrose, looking mournfully at the shelf where the whole milk should be. Not for the first time that week it was bare, bar one small, lonely bottle. “They buy it as soon as it comes in. They’ve found out about it on TikTok, that video thing,” he continued. We straightened up – he with an ease that suggested whole milk was not new to his joints – and discussed the merits of this full-fat fad which at that moment was frustrating our shopping lists. Up until the past six months, whole milk had been easy to buy, the overwhelming preference in this country having been for skimmed or semi-skimmed. We’d never before competed for full-fat milk or for full-fat yogurt or cheese; now all three were in growing demand (searches for whole milk having grown sharply over the past 12 weeks, according to Google Trends). “It’s good, I suppose,” my …

Best Valentine’s supermarket meal deals for 2024: Waitrose and more

Best Valentine’s supermarket meal deals for 2024: Waitrose and more

Published by skeptic

Price: £15 in the app or with a My Morrisons loyalty card The deal: a starter, main, two sides and dessert to share, plus a bottle of fine wine or a pre-mixed cocktail Available from: February 8 – 14 Consider the ante upped over at Morrisons, which mimics Waitrose’s Valentine’s deal for a fiver less and throws in another side while it’s at it.  Kick things off with starters that include Scotch eggs, tempura prawns or chicken parfait with a suitably celebratory Champagne glaze. Mains include matured rump steak, but with Beef En Croute, lamb shank and prosciutto-wrapped pork filet on the menu too, there’s plenty else to turn your head. The only vegetarian option is Mac & Cheese, but with temperatures as they are, it’s a comfort food that’s absolutely tempting.  For the sweet course, GU desserts are there for the taking, as well as puds from the supermarket’s The Best range.  To sip throughout, diners can choose between regular and rose Prosecco, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, rioja or beer and soft drinks.

Waitrose offers free coffees for police officers amid shoplifting rise | Waitrose

Published by Sam

Waitrose and John Lewis are offering free coffees and other hot drinks to on-duty police officers amid a rise in shoplifting. The drinks are aimed at encouraging a police presence in order to make thieves “think twice” about stealing goods, said the head of security at the John Lewis Partnership, which owns the John Lewis and Waitrose brands. Nicki Juniper said: “Retailers across the board are seeing a rise in crime. This isn’t driven by a need to put food on the table, but rather professional shoplifters stealing for greed over need.” Staff have also reported an increase in aggression from shoppers since the pandemic, according to the retailer. It is hoped that free coffee will increase chances of a visible policing presence near stores as “even just having a police car parked outside can make people think twice about shoplifting”, Juniper said. Retailers have lost £1bn to shoplifting in the past year, according to figures from industry body, the British Retail Consortium. The number of thefts rose 26% in the past year. skip past …