In February 2026, the John Lewis Partnership announced a £108m investment in pay, continuing its commitment to invest in Partner wages, alongside its wide range of other benefits.

The latest announcement comes on top of nearly £300m added to the pay budget over the three previous years.

Of this latest £108m investment, nearly 90% is voluntary and driven by the business’ desire to invest in its Partners, representing spend above and beyond the requirements of the National Minimum Wage.

From 1 April, those working on the shop floor across John Lewis and Waitrose will receive a 6.9% increase – with minimum hourly rates rising to £13.25 (UK-wide) and £14.80 (within the M25). For a typical full-time Partner, this translates to an additional £1,600 per year.

Rates of pay increase to £14.31 per hour for those Partners who gain enhanced skills and take on specialist roles, rising to £15.98 within the M25.

In addition to baseline pay, Partners get access to a unique range of benefits – including generous discounts at John Lewis and Waitrose. The Partnership also offers up to a 12% pension contribution, discounted rates to its network of hotels across the UK, up to £275 towards subsidising personal development and leisure activities such as theatre and live events, subsidised meals, and a wide ranging health and wellbeing offer including options for self-referral to physiotherapy and counselling.

John Lewis Partnership Unaudited Full Year Results for the 53 weeks ended 31 January 2026

• Partnership sales increased 5% to £13.4bn, marking another year of growth
• Investments delivered record customer satisfaction scores in a challenging market
• Profit before tax, bonus and exceptional items increased 6% to £134m
• Operating cash flow up £63m to £595m, supporting increasing investment in the business and Partners, with £108m growth in pay and a Partnership Bonus of 2%
• Liquidity strengthened to £1.6bn, enabling another year of self-funded investment in 2026/27

Full year performance
The John Lewis Partnership, home to Waitrose and John Lewis, reports an improvement in financial performance for 2025/26.

Partnership sales increased to £13.4bn, up 5% year-on-year. Operating profit margin improved slightly to 2.1% and cash generated from operations was £595m, up £63m year-on-year.

Profit before tax, bonus and exceptional items increased to £134m, up 6% from £126m in 2024/25, supported by strong customer metrics and a disciplined approach to operating performance. Year-on-year profit growth was held back by headwinds of £53m from non-like-for-like taxation, comprising £13m from the new Extended Producer Responsibility packaging levy and £40m from higher National Insurance Contributions, as well as higher promotional mix as customers spent more cautiously, especially in the run up to the peak period.

Loss before tax of £21m (2024/25: profit £97m) includes exceptional charges of £120m (2024/25: £29m). The significant majority of exceptional charges were non-cash. These primarily relate to write downs of legacy systems, as we modernise technology to drive future growth.

Investing in our transformation
During 2025/26, we invested 26% more than the prior year in our stores, technology, supply chain and wider brand initiatives. This drove record customer satisfaction and loyalty, with growth in My Waitrose (+6%) and My John Lewis (+10%) memberships. We will continue to step up investment in our transformation this coming year to further enhance the customer experience and progress our multi-year transformation plan.

Productivity gains remain key to our transformation. In 2025/26, improvements across our operations helped strengthen operating profit margin, and offset the non-like-for-like tax headwinds. We continue to focus on working more efficiently in ways that benefit both customers and our Partners.

We are investing in John Lewis Money as a core enabler of our retail strategy. During the year we secured regulatory authorisation as a credit and insurance broker, enabling greater choice and flexibility in financial services for our customers and positioning the business to accelerate growth.

We decided to exit our Build-to-Rent property business in response to significant changes in the economy since we entered this market.

Our balance sheet remains strong, with total liquidity of £1.6bn, up from £1.5bn last year. This reflects strong cash generation and a renewed £460m undrawn revolving credit facility, allowing us to continue to self-fund long-term investments.

As employee-owners, our Partners are central to our success. Maintaining competitive base pay remains a priority: in 2026, we are investing £108m in base pay, bringing our total investment in Partners’ pay to £340m over the past three years.

Our disciplined financial management in recent years, combined with improving cash generation, good liquidity and low levels of external borrowings, has enabled the Board to distribute a Partnership Bonus of 2%, equivalent to an extra week’s pay for all Partners.

Waitrose
Our Home of Food Lovers strategy helped drive sales growth of 7% to £8.5bn. Waitrose achieved a tenth consecutive quarter of customer growth, attracting 5% more shoppers than two years ago and its highest recorded Net Promoter Score. Volumes increased 3%, reflecting another year of outperforming the market. Adjusted operating profit was £256m, up £29m, with operating margin improving 16 bps to 3.2%.

Key initiatives driving growth and customer satisfaction included:

• Modernised the shopping experience for customers, refurbishing 23 stores and opening three new convenience shops as part of our investment across the Waitrose estate.
• Improved our loyalty offer, through the launch of Waitrose Little Treats, which rewards customers with money off or free products.
• Our omnichannel offer continues to resonate with customers, with online order volumes up 11% and sales increasing over 13% year-on-year.
• Made it easier for customers to find what they need, achieving record 97% on-shelf availability having invested in our core merchandising systems.
• Strengthened quality and sustainability for customers, with Waitrose No.1 up nearly 30% and continued leadership on animal welfare through our Better Chicken Commitment and higher-welfare pork.
• We announced a new 360,000 sq ft distribution centre in Bristol, to further improve availability, strengthen our supply chain and support future growth.

John Lewis
John Lewis continued to execute its customer-focused omnichannel strategy, delivering sales of £4.9bn, up 3% on last year. Customer engagement strengthened through the year, with Net Promoter Score reaching a record level. Adjusted operating profit was £58m, up £13m, with operating margin improving 32 bps to 1.6%.

Key initiatives driving growth and customer satisfaction included:

• Improved the in-store experience for our customers as part of our multi-year investment in our estate, with major refurbishments during the year in Liverpool and Bluewater, and beauty expansions in Solihull, Welwyn Garden City and Cambridge.
• Delivered award-winning service for customers, topping the 2026 UK Customer Satisfaction Index for UK retail and seeing record demand for Personal Styling and Nursery appointments.
• Boosted product availability by extending ‘Ship from Store’ to 28 locations, leveraging our shop estate as a fulfillment network to ensure in-demand items are always within reach.
• Broadened choice and relevance for customers, launching 200 new and in-demand brands, including an exclusive national partnership with Topshop.
• Giving customers more reasons to spend time in our shops, opening six new hospitality venues to bring the total to 62.

Outlook
We remain cautious in our outlook for trading in 2026/27. Despite this, we are well positioned to navigate the challenging macroeconomic environment, with improved liquidity and low levels of external borrowings. This allows us to continue investing in our retail-first strategy, which will benefit our customers and unlock the headroom we see in all of our brands. We are confident in making further steps forward in the year ahead as we progress our multi-year transformation.

Read the full statement here.

The first John Lewis…

John Lewis Senior was born in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, in 1836. His parents died while he was a child and he was brought up largely by his aunt, Ann Speed. At 14 he was apprenticed to a local draper and, by the age of 20, he had moved to London and was working in Peter Robinson’s shop in Oxford Circus. He soon became the youngest silk buyer in the capital.

In 1864, John Lewis then opened his own small draper’s shop on Oxford Street in London. He took the grand total of 16s 4d (82p) on his first day. Even from its early days though, the business began to grow. He soon expanded into neighbouring properties and rebuilt much of the shop in the 1880s.

His trading policy was simple – a wide assortment, low margins, and fair dealing – and ironically (considering how big John Lewis Christmas adverts now are) he never advertised.

In 1884, John Lewis. Senior married Eliza Baker, a teacher who had been one of the first women to attend Cambridge University. They had two sons, John Spedan, who was born in 1885 and and Oswald, born in 1887.

Both boys followed their father into the family business after leaving education, but it was John Spedan in particular who began to see things differently.

By the time Spedan reached his 21st birthday, John Lewis Senior now controlled two shops; his original one on Oxford Street and Peter Jones in Sloane square which is still part of the business today.

At this coming of age, Spedan received a quarter share in his father’s business, valued at £50,000, which entitled him to a quarter of the profits of the Oxford Street shop. Shortly afterwards he also became a director of Peter Jones Ltd. Oswald received a similar share on his coming of age. The two younger Lewises encouraged the shop staff to take an interest in sport and started a staff magazine, the Byron Quarterly.

Revolutionary Ideas

It wasn’t long before Spedan became uneasy that he, his brother and his father were receiving more income from the family business than all their employees put together. After a riding accident forced him to have two operations and a long period of recovery, he thought deeply about his own future and that of the business. He was eager to share his profits with his staff and to redistribute money which was being kept in reserve.

In order to do this, Spedan decided he would have to make the business into a limited liability company, distributing the profits to the employees in the form of shares in proportion to their pay. His father’s reaction to this suggestion – and to his inevitable smaller share of the retained profits – was somewhat negative.

The Experiment

It was in 1914 that John Lewis Senior handed over the entire managerial control of the Peter Jones shop to Spedan, who became the shop’s chairman and its nominal managing director. He was then free to start putting his forward-thinking ideas into practice. However, his father made him continue to work until 5pm at the Oxford Street shop, and the Peter Jones business was doing badly.

Spedan’s first move was to shorten the working day by an hour and to start a departmental system of commission. He also set up the staff committees in which elected representatives held regular meetings with him in the absence of their managers. This system is still in operation.

Spedan had a serious disagreement with his father in 1916 that was to shape the future of the John Lewis Partnership. He withdrew from active participation in the Oxford Street shop and swapped his quarter-share of the business for his father’s controlling holding in the capital of Peter Jones Limited.

Over the next few years he made further changes at Peter Jones, giving the staff a third week’s holiday, taking on unusually well educated people for management posts, and starting The Gazette (our internal news publication which is still published in the Partnership today).

In 1919 he set up a staff council (the forerunner of today’s Partnership, Divisional and Branch Councils). His employee-ownership and democratic business model ideas were starting to flourish and Peter Jones was commercially, all the better for it.

Family & Business

Spedan Lewis married Sarah Beatrice Mary Hunter in 1923. She was one of five women graduates recruited as buyers the previous year and became deputy chairman of the Partnership after their marriage. They had three children: John, who sadly died as a child, Jill (1927-68) and Edward (1929-2008).

Spedan’s mother died in 1924 and the long disagreement between him and his father was made up. In 1926, Oswald gave his brother his share in the Oxford Street shop, and control of both stores passed to Spedan, although his father was still very much involved with the day-to-day running of the business. Spedan immediately started to apply his ‘Partnership’ ideals to the Oxford Street shop as well, and bought the Odney Club at Cookham, Berkshire, in the same year (one of 5 Partnership hotels that we still enjoy today).

John Lewis Senior died in 1928, aged 92, leaving Spedan sole owner of both stores. He expanded his shop still further down Oxford Street. He also converted the John Lewis firm into a public company – John Lewis and Company Limited – creating capital for expansion.

The Partnership is Born

On 18 April 1929 Spedan Lewis signed the First Trust Settlement, transferring his own shares in John Lewis Ltd, Peter Jones Ltd and the Odney Estate to a board of trustees on behalf of the Partners. He also created the John Lewis Partnership Limited.

In return he would receive bonds worth £1 million over the following 30 years. He retained complete practical control but took no more income from the business.

Twenty-one years later, on 26 April 1950, Spedan signed the Second Trust Settlement, effectively ‘giving’ the Partnership to the people who work in it. By this act he transferred all his remaining shares and his ultimate control to the trustees. The John Lewis Partnership expanded during the remainder of the 20th century into the business we know today.

Waitrose Joins the Partnership

The Partnership bought Waitrose Ltd in October 1937. At the time it was a London-based family business with 10 grocery and provisions shops employing 164 staff. Wallace Wyndham Waite, who had opened his first shop with Arthur Rose and David Taylor in 1904, was still in charge.

The three men had started trading in Acton, west London. Their original shop soon expanded, and reopened in much larger premises in 1908, selling everything from fish to flowers. By 1920 there were more than 20 Waitrose shops throughout London and the Home Counties, but many shops had closed by 1930 after a decade of more difficult trading conditions.

The Partnership was attracted to Waitrose, said Spedan Lewis, by its ‘high reputation not only for the quality of its goods but also for the way in which it has been built up… It is no secret that many provision shops… have owed a good deal of their success to the bribing of servants of their customers. Messrs Waitrose Limited have never used any such methods.’

We All Own It

From a small drapers shop on Oxford Street to truly revolutionary ideas, the John Lewis Partnership today stands as a profound testament to the foresight of Spedan Lewis and his belief that a better way of doing business could be found. One that benefits its Partners, customers, suppliers and the world as a whole.

In an ever-changing 21st-century retail landscape, this enduring model of ownership remains our deepest strength. It is a structure where every individual is a Partner, with a shared stake in the collective future. This spirit, forged through a history of overcoming challenges, ensures that the Partnership, gifted by its founder to the people who work in it, remains strong, resilient, and ready to face the future and is anchored in unwavering conviction of our unique purpose – Working in Partnership for a Happier World.

The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has today launched its third Building Happier Futures (BHF) Impact Report, revealing it has raised nearly £3m for charities supporting the care experienced community and has offered more than 400 roles to care experienced people since the programme began in 2022.

The report, released to mark National Care Leavers Month, confirms the BHF employability programme is now accessible in every John Lewis and Waitrose shop.

Part of the John Lewis Partnership Foundation, the BHF fund awards grants for UK projects to provide education, connection, experience and fun for care experienced people and to date has raised £2.8m and supported 26 charities.

In addition, the John Lewis Partnership and the Open University have jointly funded 22 scholarships for care experienced people.

Foster carers and kinship carers from the Partnership met Josh MacAlister, Minister for Children & Families and Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner, to discuss how employers can better support carers and accelerate employment opportunities for the care experienced community. The Partnership is using its voice to call on the Government to strengthen support for kinship and foster carers during the ongoing review of the parental leave system.

As the largest accredited Fostering Friendly organisation, the Partnership offers an additional week of paid leave to its Partners who are foster and kinship carers, helping them balance work with their vital responsibilities.

To further the cause, the John Lewis Partnership is calling for businesses to introduce tailored recruitment and employability programmes to support people leaving care to explore the world of work, as well as policies that offer employees the flexibility they need to provide support to children and young people coming into their care.

Children and Families Minister, Josh MacAlister, said: “We need more of our big employers to do their bit to support some of the most vulnerable children in our society. Whether that’s helping young care experienced people with a leg up on the career ladder, or supporting employees who are kinship or foster carers.

“The John Lewis Partnership is a great example of what employers can do in this area. This Care Leavers Month I am issuing a call to action to the great British business community to step up to the plate and deliver for young people in care.

“I would also encourage employers to sign up to the government-funded Care Leaver Covenant. We are driving the largest ever reform of children’s social care through our Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, backed by £2 billion to break the cycle of crisis for children, and businesses have a vital role to play in that.”

Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner, said: “I want to pay testament to the incredible people who selflessly open their homes and families to children across England and to the John Lewis Partnership which is leading the way when it comes to supporting employees who decide to take up these vital roles.

“We must ensure that we value our foster and kinship carers as experts in children’s lives, providing them with strong support, good training, and fair allowances. By doing so, we can encourage more people, including younger adults and professionals, to consider fostering and give more children the stability and care they need.”

Sarah Thomas, Chief Executive of The Fostering Network, said: “The Fostering Network is proud to partner with the John Lewis Partnership and values their leadership as our biggest Fostering Friendly Employer. We are calling on the Government to strengthen support for foster carers during the ongoing review of the parental leave system and for employers to follow the John Lewis Partnership’s lead in this space.

“As a charity, we are grateful for the generous support provided to our charity and local fostering causes through the Community Matters funding. This funding helps the whole community to continue to champion foster care across the UK.”

Now accessible in every location the John Lewis Partnership operates in, from the 317 Waitrose and 36 John Lewis shops to distribution centres across the UK, BHF aims to offer employability support to care experienced people, including CV writing and interview skills.

The BHF Impact Report, released today, reveals the milestones achieved since the programme’s launch in 2022, including:

Employability

• 402 roles have been offered to people from the care experienced community.
• 1,442 care experienced people have attended welcome tours, introducing them to the opportunities in John Lewis Partnerships’ shops, offices and supply chain.

Education

• 22 scholarships have been awarded to care experienced people, jointly funded by the John Lewis Partnership and the Open University.
• More than 1,000 people who work in the John Lewis Partnership have completed care experienced learning with Who Cares? Scotland to deepen their understanding as allies.

Fundraising

• £2.8m has been raised for charities supporting the care experienced community through product sales and other customer fundraising initiatives.
• Of this, £271k has been raised for the BHF Fund through the sale of Made by Care products, designed by care experienced aspiring designers.
• 26 charities have been supported by the BHF Fund, part of the John Lewis Partnership Foundation.

Foster & Kinship Carers

• The John Lewis Partnership has been accredited as a Fostering Friendly organisation by The Fostering Network (the largest business to receive this) and as Kinship Friendly by the Kinship charity, since 2023.
• Partners who are foster and kinship carers receive additional paid leave, giving them the flexibility to attend appointments and training.
• During Foster Care Fortnight, the Partnership hosted coffee mornings at John Lewis shops across the UK, offering a welcoming space to connect.
• The John Lewis Partnership Community Matters charitable giving scheme that runs throughout John Lewis and Waitrose shops dedicated its funding to causes which support fostering and children’s activities in May, June and July.

Waitrose has today unveiled The Perfect Gift; a first of its kind romantic comedy ‘short’ celebrating the supermarket’s 2025 festive offering.

Providing a fresh take on the classic Christmas campaign, the four minute film stars beloved British actress, Keira Knightley, as the female lead; matched with ‘everyman’ lovable comedian, Joe Wilkinson – who reprises his role as Phil, from the grocer’s 2024 ‘whodunnit’ festive advert.

We watch as the pair encounter the ultimate ‘meet cute’ moment at a Waitrose cheese counter, as they share a love for Sussex Charmer Mature Cheddar. Akin to their favourite cheese, our male lead lives in Sussex and turns out to be a bit of a charmer himself.

Their romance unfolds, not without hiccups, in front of our eyes; before Phil says the ultimate ‘I love you’ by recreating Keira’s Nan’s pie recipe* – which inspired the Waitrose No.1 Festive Turkey Pie – as for food lovers, food is the greatest love language.

The mini movie highlights the importance and ease of “saying it with food”, amplifying the key role food plays in bringing people together, and communicating messages of love and care – because if you can’t say it at Christmas, when can you, eh?

Keira Knightley comments, “I love food, and so when I received this script where I get to fall head over heels in love over a shared love of cheese, I couldn’t turn it down! I adored working on this silly, fun and delicious film with Joe and I hope those watching it fall in love too.”

Joe Wilkinson adds, “It was great to be back with Waitrose for their 2025 Christmas campaign. This year, Phil got to enjoy both the love and the food he truly deserved. As you can imagine, it was tough having to eat the delicious Waitrose food and falling in love with Keira, but I just got on with it, like the trooper I am!”

Created by Wonderhood Studios and directed by Molly Manners, who directed the popular Netflix romcom; One Day, the campaign pays homage to the romantic comedy genre, providing viewers with a sense of comfort, calm and magic.

The soundtrack, featuring ‘She’s a star’ by British Indie rock band, James, amplifies the empowering and uplifting feelings of the campaign; and nods to Keira Knightley, playing herself, as one of Britain’s biggest stars.

Waitrose has opened its first ever ‘Home of Food Lovers’ concept store in Newbury, reinforcing its mission to be the first choice for food lovers.

The 27,000 sq ft Newbury store has been selected as a testing ground for new concepts. It is a key milestone in the grocer’s ongoing £1bn investment programme to enhance its existing 317 shops and open new ones. Once tested with customers, new concepts will be introduced to other shops and become part of the blueprint for new Waitrose shops.

The new look Newbury store – focusing on outstanding quality, expert service and ethically sourced products – is powered by new technology. Waitrose is investing a record £50m in tech across the Waitrose store estate to enhance the customer journey and Partner experience.

The Newbury shop showcases strategic investments in the areas that matter most to food lovers:

Leading the way on fresh food expertise & quality

• A five metre Cheese Island, a first for the estate, featuring a curated selection of nearly 100 speciality cheeses and expert advice from Partners
• Expanded and modernised counters featuring a new ‘Meal Maker’ service, where Fishmongers and Butchers prepare cuts with free rubs and marinades. The area also includes a new Dry-Aged beef counter
• An expanded in-store bakery featuring exclusive new partnership with premium brand Ole & Steen, which will be rolled out to 35 stores
• A revitalised fruit and veg department championing sustainability, with its strongest-ever focus on organic, Fairtrade, and regeneratively-farmed produce
• Further investment in training – Partners in Beers, Wines & Spirits, Bakery, Counters, and the Café have completed additional training and qualifications from renowned organisations including, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Guild of Fine Food and specialist suppliers including Dovecote Park and Pilgrims

Enhancing the customer experience & in-store innovation

• Shoppers in Newbury will enjoy 10 new brand partnerships, spotlighting innovative and artisan producers such as Tap Social, Agua De Madre, and The Good Crisp Company
• A new ‘Food Lovers Hub’ offering seasonal recipe inspiration will offer all ingredients and wine pairings conveniently grouped together
• A new Delicatessen counter offers a personalised grazing box service
• A new Fine & Rare wine section complete with a blast wine chiller – an innovation that cools bottles to the perfect temperature in minutes
• A brand new Waite & Rose Café, representing a further investment in the store café experience for customers

Investing in Tech and first-to-market app

• Electronic shelf labels which free up Partners from having to insert printed labels and brand new hand held devices used to check stock and answer customer queries are being rolled out to all shops. Most shops will also have cash automation technology
• Shelf-edge cameras to help Partners spot stock gaps faster are being tested in Newbury and in six other shops
• Partners at the Newbury store will be the first to trial an innovative first-to-market AI app created by Waitrose to give them up-to-date product information enabling them to provide customers with outstanding service, and communicate their knowledge and passion for food.
• Responding to either text or voice requests, the app will give Partners answers on product availability and location, nutrition and sustainability, and even cooking and recipe recommendations

Nationwide shop investment programme

• Waitrose is investing in every shop nationwide, from refurbishments to new openings. The £1 billion, multi-year programme is designed to offer the very best products, service and shops for customers.
• In the past month, Waitrose has opened two brand new Little Waitrose shops – at The Arches, Bristol and Wandsworth New Acres – with a multitude of store transformations still to come.
• The retailer has also announced a new 360,000 sq ft distribution centre in Bristol, and in 2027, Waitrose’s first new full-line supermarket for seven years will open at Brabazon, an award-winning new town in Bristol.

The 2025 Christmas advert from John Lewis has arrived, inviting the nation to say what they truly feel through the timeless power of thoughtful gifting.

90s dance icon Alison Limerick provides the soundtrack with her iconic hit ‘Where Love Lives’, with a newly reimagined version by globally acclaimed artist and producer Labrinth featuring in the Ad.

The campaign explores thoughtful gifting in a way that is new – but unmistakably John Lewis. The Ad focuses on a teenage son who uses music as a medium to express the feelings for his dad he can’t find the words for, ending with the strapline: “If you can’t find the words, find the gift.”

The Ad, created by Saatchi & Saatchi, takes viewers to Christmas Day in a family household. Passing a son who’s in his own world with headphones on, the focus shifts to the Dad, who is by the tree on his hands and knees clearing up discarded wrapping paper.

Amongst the wrapping paper, he discovers an unopened present marked ‘Dad’ with a smiley face. Inside is a vinyl record of  Where Love Lives by Alison Limerick. He heads straight to his record player and drops the needle gently into the groove. As the opening bars of the 90s classic fill the room, he closes his eyes – and the power of the music evokes a core memory, transporting him back to the 1990s he remembers and loves.

Viewers are then taken on the Dad’s journey as he loses himself in the music. Suddenly, he’s in a 90s club, dancing with his friends. Through the strobe lights he spots his teenage son across the crowd. Calling out to him, the son begins to fade beneath the flashing lights as the music swells to a crescendo.

In the flashes of the strobe lights, the Dad calls for his son who – not as a teen, but as a toddler, takes his first steps towards him. Another flash, and the Dad holds his newborn son bundled tightly in his arms. The music becomes a bridge between memory and love, between then and now.

The scene shifts back to the present day, as Labrinth’s newly reimagined version of the track echoes softly. The Dad is in the living room when his son comes down the stairs and catches him enjoying his gift. The son looks on, slightly embarrassed, until his Dad pulls him an embrace. They share a quiet, unspoken moment – a wordless “thank you”, carrying the weight of “I know we aren’t as close as we used to be but I love you.”

Waitrose has launched a brand new member benefit ‘Little Treats’ nationwide. The new addition gives My Waitrose customers the chance to claim up to three treats each month, from free products to money-off their shop – making it the supermarket’s biggest giveaway since the return of free coffee earlier this year.

My Waitrose customers will now be able to access a brand-new ‘Little Treats’ tracker in their Waitrose account online or in the app. Once they have spent £50 a ‘Little Treat’ voucher will automatically pop up in their account, and another when they have spent £100, and a third when they have spent £250. At the beginning of each month the count will reset to zero, giving customers the opportunity to enjoy dozens of little treats over a year.

The nationwide roll out follows trials at 74 stores through September and October, with an overwhelmingly positive response from customers. The treats up for grabs during the trial included a free bunch of Waitrose Foundation Pastel Roses, a mouthwatering No.1 pizza and up to £5 off in vouchers to enjoy.

‘Little Treats’ is the tenth benefit available exclusively via the My Waitrose loyalty scheme, which already includes personalised offers, free hot drinks and 20% off selected service counter products.

Another much-loved perk is the complimentary monthly copy of the Waitrose Food magazine, This November, the supermarket is relaunching the popular magazine with an iconic new look. The refreshed read is designed specifically for food lovers, brimming with everyday inspiration, expert writers, elaborate occasion dishes and exciting weekend kitchen projects.

To enjoy all these benefits and more, shoppers simply need to head here to sign up.

As you may have read across our careers site, the ultimate purpose of the Partnership is to work together for a happier world. We’re passionate about making a positive impact on the world around us. We champion the happiness of our communities, build trusted relationships based on integrity and doing what’s right, and of course, taking responsibility for our environmental impact.

Just one way in which we’re bringing our purpose to life is through the work we’re leading the way on for regenerative farming practices.

Farming for Nature Initiative

Last year, we launched our Farming for Nature programme, supporting over 2,000 British farmers to adopt more nature-friendly practices. It’s part of our wider commitment to reach net zero across all UK farms by 2035.

This work is about more than climate targets. It’s about making sure our farms have the resilience, and the financial and logistical support, to thrive in the years ahead. This is because if we continue to farm in conventional ways, we may only have 40-50 harvests left in the soils we use across the world! It’s this stark warning that drives our passion for regenerative farming. Because the truth is, the future of food depends on the health of our soils.

For our customers, programmes like this also means peace of mind that every basket of shopping contributes to a food system that restores the natural world rather than depleting it.

How Regenerative Farming Works

At its heart, regenerative farming is about keeping soils alive, working with nature’s cycles, and ensuring farming doesn’t just sustain, but improves the land. Some of the ways we do this include:

• • Minimising soil disturbance so the creatures that live in it can thrive.
  • Growing a wide diversity of crops, which encourages insects and creates a more resilient ecosystem.
  • Keeping soil covered and maintaining living roots, protecting its structure and feeding its microbial life.
  • Integrating livestock, whose grazing and natural fertilising play a vital role in biodiversity.

The Leckford Estate

One of the best examples of where our Farming for Nature initiative is taking shape is at our very own Leckford Estate.

The Leckford Estate is a unique asset owned by Waitrose, a 2,800 acre working farm and country estate in Hampshire. Our ambition there is to continue practising regenerative farming techniques that focus on soil regeneration, improving the water cycle as well as increasing carbon capture, biodiversity and resilience to climate change.

Here, we produce our own flour, rapeseed oil and brut where regenerative principles guide every step. We’re also very excited to be launching our own Leckford honey in November this year (2025).

Our Expert Partners

As well as the exceptional people in the core team, we have the support of a number of chosen partners who are experts in their fields.

These partners bring specialist skills to the project, including tools to accelerate success – technological integrations, such as digital mapping provided by Land App, to create Baseline Habitat Assessments and Land Management Plans. These tools assist farmers in monitoring environmental metrics and planning regenerative practices effectively.

Celebrating our Success

We are proud of the recognition we have received that recognises our dedication to excellence, innovation and care in agriculture. These honours reflect the hard work of our team and the impact of our work across the industry.

WINNER FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD & FARMING CIWF AWARD
Awarded in 2024 for our groundbreaking “Farming for Nature” initiative at the Compassion in World Farming Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards.

COMPASSION IN WORLD FARMING – BEST RETAILER
Won four consecutive years in a row, we are extremely proud of how we continually improve the care of our animals.

COMPASSION IN WORLD FARMING – BEST RETAILER INNOVATION
Awarded in 2022 for developing and implementing the first Qualitative Behavioural Assessment App to measure the emotional wellbeing of animals.

The Hard Work Continues

As you can imagine, the work Farming for Nature has set out to do is no mean feat. It will take dedicated people and work to ensure the future of farming becomes more and more sustainable and can continue to provide the good food we all deserve for generations to come.

You can find out more about Farming for Nature on our Leckford website or find out more about the Partnership purpose here.

It takes all kinds of people to make retail operations run smoothly, and our Supermarket Assistants are no expectation. They are at the heart of daily life in any Waitrose & Partners shop.

They’re the friendly faces that bring the Waitrose difference to life. Passionate Partners serving food lovers, always going the extra mile by helping customers find what they need and ensuring the shop is always ready for showtime.

That means combining a few key ingredients; a passion for great tasting food, a spark for great customer service and the ability to complete the practical tasks around the shop. You could be stocking the fresh fruit shelves in the morning, helping a customer choose the perfect cheese for their dinner party in the afternoon, and processing On-demand grocery (ODG) deliveries before the shop closes.

At Waitrose, our Supermarket Assistants are more than just colleagues, they’re Partners — co-owners in the UK’s largest employee-owned business. That means your voice matters, you share in our profits, and you’re supported to develop your skills and career.

What Are the Duties of a Supermarket Assistant?

Supermarket Assistants keep the shop running smoothly and see that every customer leaves feeling better than when they arrived. At Waitrose & Partners, depending on the section you work in, your duties might include:

• Helping customers – answering questions, finding products, offering recommendations as a food lover yourself and all round offering the best customer service possible.
• Stocking shelves – making sure shelves and fixtures are tidy, well-stocked, and neatly displayed.
• Behind the counter – setting up and maintaining specialised counters such as bakery, deli, meat, or fish.
• Operating tills – serving customers quickly and accurately at the checkout and self-checkout.
• On Demand Grocery – get everything sorted for customers at home by accurately picking their orders ready for to be delivered. That might be our own deliveries but also groceries on demand such as Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats that need to get sorted fast.
• Reducing wastage – following product due diligence and markdowns when something is reaching its sell-by-date.
• Receiving and unpacking deliveries – ensuring products are stored and rotated correctly.
• Keeping your Waitrose shop clean and safe – following food safety and health & safety procedures.

Some roles focus more on customer service, others on behind-the-scenes organisation, but most have a mix of both.

If you have a driving license, then you even bring more variety to your day by taking the Waitrose service out directly to customers by doing home deliveries as well. Take a look at our Customer Delivery Driver roles to learn more.

Is a Supermarket Assistant a Good Job?

Yes — especially at Waitrose & Partners. Here’s why:

• You’re part of a co-owned business – as a Partner, you share in the success of the business through a range of benefits that include 5 exclusive hotels, discounts, and much more.
• You work in a supportive team – colleagues are friendly, helpful, and share a sense of pride in their work.
• You get to grow your skills – with our Partnership Academy that offers learning and development, and clear pathways to take your career in retail further.
• You get flexibility – to fit your shifts around your life and the moments that matter.
• You make a difference – every customer conversation is a chance to brighten someone’s day.
• Food to feel good about – you can be passionate about the amazing products we sell which are all ethically and sustainably sourced. We take great pride and care in making this our number one priority. It’s why we’ve won more Compassion in World Farming awards than any other supermarket.

What Skills Do You Need as a Supermarket Assistant?

You don’t need specific qualifications or experience to join Waitrose as a Supermarket Assistant, but there are strengths that will help you thrive:

• Great customer service – being friendly, clear, and approachable with customers and team members.
• Teamwork – working well with other Partners to keep everything running smoothly.
• A love for food – Helping customers find the products they love and recommending the ones they are yet to try.
• Eye for detail – noticing proactively when shelves need restocking or products need rotating.
• Time management – keeping on top of tasks during busy periods and arriving promptly for shifts.
• Ready for anything – switching between jobs and problem-solving on the go.

We’ll give you all the training you need, so enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are more important than prior experience.

How old do you have to be to be a supermarket assistant at Waitrose?

If you’re still in education, part-time roles can fit around your studies and give you valuable work experience while earning.

You’ll need to be at least 16 years old by the start of the new school year to work as a Supermarket Assistant. For more information, please visit here.

Some roles, such as night shifts, or combination roles where you also drive deliveries, have a higher minimum age of 18 due to the nature of the tasks involved.

What Makes a Good Supermarket Assistant?

At Waitrose, we look for someone who…

• Absolutely loves food, knows our products inside and out and can forge emotional connections with customers who are food-lovers too!
• Feel pride in keeping the shop looking its best, treating it as a shop-keeper and co-owner.
• Look out for the other Partners in your team with energy and a can-do attitude.
• Stays calm and helpful, even when the shop is busy.
• Understands you’re a co-owner, that can raise your voice and have a real impact on the way things are done at every level of the John Lewis Partnership.

Shares our vision of building a happier world for everyone — our people, our communities and the wider world.

We value kindness and professionalism as much as practical skills — having a genuine care for people goes a long way.

What Does a Day in the Life of a Supermarket Assistant Look Like?

Every day is different, but here’s an example of what your shift might involve:

Morning – Arrive before the shop opens to help the e-commerce team with deliveries, unpack goods, replenish bags around the shop and get fresh produce and bakery items on the shelves ready for customers.

Midday – Serve customers at the tills, answer questions on the shop floor, and restock shelves when needed.

Afternoon – Prepare displays for evening shoppers, tidy the shop, and check that all products are in date and correctly labelled. Prevent wastage by reducing items getting close to their sell-by-date.

You’ll be on your feet and moving around for much of your shift. It’s active, sociable work that keeps the day moving quickly. On average, Supermarket Assistants can walk 20,000 steps in a day!

Convenience Store Jobs at Little Waitrose

If you’re independent, have a broad set of skills and crave an even faster pace that keeps you on your toes, then you might be looking for convenience store jobs at a Little Waitrose & Partners.

You’ll bring customers the passionate, proactive and smart service we’re known for — right where they need it. In return you’ll work with a close-knit team and enjoy all our same Partner benefits as in a larger shop.

How Many Hours Do Supermarket Assistants Work?

Supermarket Assistant jobs at Waitrose could see you work full-time, part-time, or seasonal shifts. It all depends on what the team is looking for. We do our best to offer flexible working for all Partners that can help them achieve a good work/life balance.

• Part-time roles can range from 8–20 hours a week.
• Full-time roles are usually around 35–39 hours a week.

Shifts can be during the day, in the evening, or overnight (for replenishment roles). The flexibility makes it a popular choice for students, parents, and anyone wanting to balance work with other commitments.

What Experience Do You Get as a Supermarket Assistant?

Roles in our shops are a great way to build skills and confidence that can take you into other areas of retail, customer support, or even Head Office roles. You’ll gain:

• Customer service skills that are valued in almost every industry.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, team-based environment.
• Knowledge of stock management, food safety, and health & safety procedures.
• The ability to stay organised and efficient during busy periods.

At Waitrose, many Partners start as Supermarket Assistants and go on to roles as team leaders, managers, product specialists, or even into our Head Office teams.

Since 2017, we’ve seen over 5,000 Partners sign up for apprenticeships that have taken them to new specialities such as marketing, buying, merchandising or even design. With a Supermarket Assistant role, you could go beyond a convenient flexible opportunity that fits around your life right now to find a springboard for your future career.

For many, it’s not just a job. It’s the start of a career in retail with one of Britain’s most respected supermarket brands. There are so many ambitious career stories within all corners of the Partnership, from running our shops to beyond in Head Office, that started right here — sharing a passion for food on the shop floor.

Thinking about joining us? Explore our latest Waitrose Supermarket Assistant roles now and see how you could become part of helping people feel good about food every day.