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Waitrose sources 100% own-brand:

BRITISH

Pork (including sausages)*
Chicken
Bacon
Beef*
Fresh veal
Fresh duck
Fresh goose
Fresh lamb (when in season)
Fresh venison (when in season)
Eggs

UK AND IRISH

Fresh turkey

*Excludes speciality products such as continental cured and cooked meats


The best of British

John Lewis: flying the flag

John Lewis has never forgotten its heritage, and supports British manufacturing wherever possible, offering suppliers fair prices, building long-term relationships and helping them to reinvest in their businesses. We own a production unit in the north of England, Herbert Parkinson, which produces our own-brand duvets, pillows, furnishing fabrics and ready-made curtains, and provides our made-to-measure curtain service.

In autumn 2009, we focused on the very best of British design, craftsmanship and quality in our home ranges, reflecting the vision, quirkiness, quality and value that continue to make the UK a global style leader. Products included the Melrose Armchair, covered in a 100% British wool fabric; iconic lighting from The Original BTC and Anglepoise; and Nick Munro’s collection of upholstered furniture.

Using local suppliers can make a real difference to the lives of people in that community. For instance, 85% of the employees of Blindcraft, which supplies John Lewis Edinburgh with handmade mattresses and beds, are registered disabled. With the support of Edinburgh City Council, Blindcraft provides meaningful employment and channels its profits back into projects to help disabled and blind people in the city.

Waitrose: local, regional and British

Waitrose’s local and regional sourcing initiative, which retained its Business in the Community ‘Big Tick’ this year, is one of the most established in the food sector. Through the scheme, which now covers around 465 producers, we aim to sell the best local and regional food, support smaller suppliers and strengthen our relationships within the communities in which we operate. All Waitrose shops sell regional beer, most have a broader local and regional offering with shelf-edge ticketing and product labelling detailing the origins and provenance of each product, and our new Market Town format shops have an even wider range.

Agriculture is an essential part of Britain’s heritage, and retailers can play a vital role in safeguarding the future of farming and the countryside (see Sustainable agriculture standards on page 9). With producers facing ever-increasing expectations to deliver traceability, meet higher environmental standards and maintain the countryside, Waitrose believes experiences should be shared. ‘Meet the buyer’ events are held every year around the UK, giving our suppliers direct access to Waitrose buyers and food technologists, and helping them to understand our expectations.

Other specific initiatives include inviting local farmers into shops to meet customers and talk about their products, and supplier conferences and industry workshops, which help smaller producers to understand food legislation and ensure best practice is shared throughout our supply chain and beyond.


Rest assured:

Working with long-established manufacturers, we use the finest materials and methods used by generations of bed makers to create our range of John Lewis own-brand mattresses and beds that are wholly British-made. Likewise, two-thirds of our upholstery ranges and all of our John Lewis kitchens are made in British factories.


The bees’ knees:

Our dairy farmers are giving a boost to dwindling numbers of bumblebees, vital for the pollination of many crops, by putting up special nesting boxes. The new initiative is part of Waitrose Wildcare, our Wildlife Trust-audited habitat scheme.


2014

Year in which Waitrose Leckford sparkling wine will be available – the result of planting our own vineyard at our Leckford Farm in 2009


(Business in the Community Awards 2009 logo)