Waitrose to make major change to opening hours and deliveries in boost for customers

WAITROSE is keeping its late-night delivery hours for good, meaning groceries can now land on doorsteps well into the night. The supermarket trialled longer opening hours during the World Cup and has now made the move permanent across 35 branches. Some of the busiest stores will run a full 24-hour delivery service, while the rest stay open for orders until midnight every day. Fans of late-night snacking or last-minute top-ups can get fresh food, ready meals and more delivered in as little as 20 minutes. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! The service runs through delivery apps Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat, rather than Waitrose’s own website or in-store hours. Laura Burbedge, Waitrose’s director of online, said shopping habits had shifted during the tournament. “The World Cup proved that our food-loving customers value the flexibility of shopping at Waitrose whenever they need us,” she said. “By extending our delivery windows, we’re making it even more convenient to access the delicious, high-quality food our customers love.” The trial launched in June across more than 50 stores in England and Scotland, timed to fit around late kick-offs and early morning matches. Orders jumped by 17% around key games, including England’s clash with Croatia. Most read in Money Shoppers can check if their local branch is included by searching for Waitrose on any of the three delivery apps. In-store hours remain unchanged, and alcohol will still only be available within each shop’s normal licensing times. Comment now