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Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Supermarket |
Founded | 1904 |
Founder | Wallace Waite Arthur Rose David Taylor |
Headquarters | , England |
Number of locations | 329 (April 2023) |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Products | Food |
Services | Supermarkets Online shopping |
Revenue | ![]() |
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Number of employees | ![]() |
Parent | John Lewis Partnership |
Website | waitrose |
Waitrose Limited,[2] trading as Waitrose & Partners, is a British supermarket chain, founded in 1904 as Waite, Rose & Taylor, later shortened to Waitrose. In 1937, it was acquired by the John Lewis Partnership, the UK's largest employee-owned business, which continues to operate the brand.[3] The company's head offices are in Bracknell, Berkshire.[4]
As of April 2023, Waitrose & Partners operates 329 shops across Great Britain and the Channel Islands, including 65 "little Waitrose" convenience shops.[5] They also export products to 52 countries and have locations in the Middle East.[6]
Known for its "upmarket" reputation, as described by The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian, Waitrose has been positioned as a premium supermarket. However, former managing director Mark Price has noted that its prices are competitive with those of Tesco, a mid-market chain.[7][8][9] The company holds a royal warrant to supply groceries, wine, and spirits to King Charles III.[10][11]