Waitrose is introducing "Mediterranean-style" fridges capable of operating in extreme temperatures of 48C, as hotter summers become more common in the UK. The new technology combines heat pumps with refrigeration, and the supermarket is also upgrading existing fridges across its estate.
Resilience during heatwaves
Waitrose retail director Tina Mitchell said the technology helps keep products fresh and improves energy efficiency. "This summer shows our latest refrigeration technology is more resilient than older equipment, and we’re continuing to accelerate investment across our estate," she said.
The upgrades follow a summer of disruption across supermarket estates, with fridge failures leaving chilled and frozen aisles empty during soaring temperatures.
Climate context
The Met Office warned in its State of the UK Climate report that "what we used to think of as extreme, we increasingly consider as normal." This came after June's highest temperature on record was reached this year, with 38C recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk, on June 26. It was also the first year that temperatures of 35C or above were recorded in May, June and July in the UK.
Wider modernisation
Waitrose’s plans build on a wider modernisation programme. According to the John Lewis Partnership’s most recent annual report, 28 Waitrose stores had their fridges replaced during 2025/26. These fridges use water-cooled systems with a lower global warming potential, and heat-pump technology had been installed at 69 shops by the end of the financial year.
Other supermarkets making changes
Several other stores are upgrading their fridge estates. Sainsbury’s said around 100 stores will receive refrigeration upgrades. Marks and Spencer is investing in fridges that can operate in temperatures of up to 45C after chief executive Stuart Machin said some stores struggled during nine days of extreme heat in June.
