Waitrose has permanently extended its grocery delivery service at 35 stores across the UK – with most branches now delivering until midnight and some locations offering a 24-hour service.
Customers are now able to order fresh ingredients, ready meals, snacks, toiletries, and household essentials through Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat, with deliveries arriving in as little as 20 minutes depending on location and availability.
The new extended hours only apply to rapid deliveries placed through the three partner apps, and do not mean supermarkets will stay open later.
Alcohol deliveries will also continue to follow each store’s normal licensing hours.
The move follows a successful trial during the FIFA World Cup in June and July, when Waitrose extended rapid delivery hours at more than 50 stores across England and Scotland as fans set aside sleep to watch late-night and early morning matches.
The supermarket chain said orders rose by 17 per cent during England’s match against Croatia and ahead of Scotland’s game against Morocco.
Waitrose has permanently extended its grocery delivery service at 35 stores across the UK through partner apps Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat
Customers also continued placing orders during the extended hours after the world-famous tournament ended, leading to Waitrose making the longer delivery windows permanent at 35 locations.
The rapid delivery service includes thousands of Waitrose own-brand and branded products, including fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, milk, ready meals, snacks, toiletries and cleaning essentials.
To check whether their nearest participating store offers the extended service, simply search for Waitrose on the Deliveroo, Uber Eats or Just Eat apps, which should automatically have your location logged.
Laura Burbedge, director of online at Waitrose, said: ‘The World Cup proved that our food-loving customers value the flexibility of shopping at Waitrose whenever they need us.
‘By extending our delivery windows, we’re making it even more convenient to access the delicious, high-quality food our customers love.’
Waitrose operates around 320 stores across the UK and has continued to expand its presence on third-party delivery platforms as demand for rapid grocery services grows.
In another landmark move, Waitrose opened its first-ever airport store in a busy London hub earlier this year, marking a new chapter for the premium grocer.
By the end of 2026, the high-end supermarket hopes to take over four Relay stores in Heathrow Terminal 2, which serves approximately 20 million passengers annually.
While the first store opened in May, there are further plans in place to have another two located airside, while one will be based landside.
Through the three partner apps, customers are now able to order fresh ingredients, ready meals, snacks, toiletries, and household essentials in as little as 20 minutes depending on location and availability
Waitrose is opened the first of four airport stores at London Heathrow Terminal 2 in May
With a focus on food-to-go-options designed for busy travellers, passengers are now spoilt for choice with a range of sandwiches, wraps, salads, sushi, and snack pots on offer.
Fans will also find items from Waitrose’s premium No. 1 range, alongside fresh fruit, granolas, smoothies and baked goods like croissants for early departures.
To meet the needs of time-pressed passengers, the first upper-level airside store isopen seven days a week, from 5am to 10pm.
Charlotte Di Cello, Waitrose Chief Commercial Officer, said: ‘Launching at Heathrow marks our first move into airport retail and an important step in growing our brand by bringing our offer to more customers in high-traffic locations.
‘In partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail and Relay, our food-to-go offer will launch in four stores in Terminal 2 by the end of the year, building on the progress we’re already making in travel retail, alongside continued investment in our own shops and online offer.’
Nicholas Dunne, Commercial Director of Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland, said: ‘This partnership with Waitrose marks a significant step in our ambition to elevate the food-to-go experience within our blended Travel Essentials offer.
‘By bringing one of the UK’s most trusted premium food brands to Relay at Heathrow Terminal 2, we are combining quality, convenience and strong brand recognition to better serve passengers in a fast-paced environment.
‘The partnership demonstrates our ability to leverage our cross-business line expertise and partner with leading High Street brands to adapt their offer to the specific needs of travellers.’
