Waitrose Status

Waitrose site is struggling with exceptional demand and is requesting that customers ‘only buy what they need.’

Customers are limited to buying three of any specific grocery item and up to two packs of toilet roll in store. These limits don’t apply to fresh fruit, vegetables and Easter confectionery, beers, wines, ciders and spirits.

There is also a temporary cap on certain products that can be bought online, including anti-bacterial soaps and wipes, pasta and some canned goods.

All Waitrose cafes will be closed, while coffees will no longer be made, to help staff keep shelves stocked.

According to a Waitrose spokesperson, all shops have the option to be flexible with their trading hours, and branches may be closed early.

Waitrose is also bringing forward its cut-off time for order changes to midday and is putting additional steps in place for self-isolating customers who are shopping online.

From 20 March, the elderly, vulnerable and those who take care of them will be able to shop exclusively in Waitrose stores in the first trading hour.

On top of this, a £1 million Community Support Fund will be made available to communities across the UK, which can be used by communities as they wish.

For example, it could be used to set up extra delivery services to support the self-isolating or vulnerable people.