Waitrose is permanently extending its rapid delivery hours at 35 UK stores, allowing customers to order groceries until midnight, with some high-demand locations offering a 24-hour service. The change applies to orders placed through Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat, and follows a successful trial during the FIFA World Cup.
Extended delivery windows
Most participating stores will now fulfill orders until midnight, while selected locations will operate around the clock. The move comes after Waitrose tested extended hours at more than 50 stores across England and Scotland during the World Cup, catering to football fans watching late-night matches.
Customers can order thousands of products, including fresh produce, meat, ready meals, snacks, toiletries, and household essentials, with deliveries arriving in as little as 20 minutes, depending on location and platform.
Permanent change after strong demand
Waitrose said demand remained strong even after the World Cup ended, prompting the company to make the longer delivery windows permanent at 35 locations. During the trial, orders increased by 17% during England's match against Croatia and in the run-up to Scotland's game against Morocco.
Laura Burbedge, Waitrose's Director of Online, 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."
What remains unchanged
The extended hours apply only to rapid grocery deliveries through third-party apps, not to physical store opening times. Alcohol deliveries remain subject to each store's licensing hours. Customers can check if their nearest Waitrose offers the service by searching in the Deliveroo, Uber Eats, or Just Eat apps.
Waitrose operates around 320 stores nationwide and continues to expand its presence on delivery platforms as demand for rapid grocery services grows.
