Waitrose abruptly shifts online fulfilment strategy

In recent half year results for John Lewis Partnership, the company said: ‘In mid-May, we announced a proposal to explore opportunities around automated online fulfilment with Today Development Partners (TDP). We have recently decided not to continue with that relationship and will instead pursue our online ambitions utilising existing expertise across the Partnership.’

Waitrose & Partners has plans to further strengthen its online capabilities this year with its new customer fulfilment centre in Enfield. It plans to build towards trebling the size of its online grocery operation to a £1bn business over the next three years.

Today Development Partners (TDP) is a technology start-up. One of its key figures is Ocado co-founder Jonathan Faiman.

Waitrose went into partnership with TDP three months after the termination of the Waitrose and Ocado partnership.