Waitrose announced plans to close four shops as part of restructuring. Credit: Waitrose & Partners.

UK supermarket chain Waitrose has revealed plans to shutter four underperforming shops leaving more than hundreds at the risk of losing jobs.

The move is part of the retailer’s on-going review of the Waitrose store estate, which started in 2017.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The stores located in Caldicot, Ipswich Corn Exchange and Shrewsbury will cease trading on 6 December leaving 124 Partners at risk of redundancy.

The retailer also entered into an agreement to divest its supermarket in Wolverhampton to supermarket chain Tesco. It will close the store at the end of trade on 31 December, while the 140 Partner roles at Wolverhampton will transfer under Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) to Tesco.

All affected Partners will now enter a period of consultation.

Meanwhile, the four locations will continue to be served by waitrose.com and its Ipswich supermarket in Futura Park will remain operational.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Waitrose, owned by John Lewis Partnership, will explore opportunities for those who wish to remain with the business.

John Lewis Partnership customer services partner and executive director Bérangère Michel said: “Closing any of our shops is always a last resort and is not a reflection on the dedication of our Partners in Caldicot, Ipswich Corn Exchange, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton.

“Sadly, we have not been able to find a way to make these shops profitable in the long-term, despite the hard work of everyone involved.

“Our priority now is the wellbeing and future of our Partners in these shops. We will do everything we can to support them and explore opportunities wherever possible for those who may wish to remain with the Partnership.”

In July, Real estate investment trust Supermarket Income REIT (SUPR) entered into a sale and leaseback transaction with Waitrose & Partners.