Waitrose has announced a permanent extension of its rapid delivery hours at 35 branches across the UK following a trial run during the recent FIFA World Cup. The move means many customers can now order groceries via third-party apps later in the evening than before — a change that could affect routine shopping for people in Warrington who rely on quick online orders.
What has changed
Under the new arrangement, most participating Waitrose shops will accept orders placed through Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat until midnight. A smaller number of high-demand locations will offer deliveries on a 24-hour basis.
"The World Cup proved that our food-loving customers value the flexibility of shopping at Waitrose whenever they need us. By extending our delivery windows, we’re making it even more convenient to access the delicious, high-quality food our customers love."
The changes were first trialled at more than 50 Waitrose branches across England and Scotland between 23 June and the end of the tournament. The supermarket said demand increased during the extra hours: orders rose by 17% around England’s match with Croatia and also peaked before Scotland’s fixture with Morocco.
How this affects local shoppers
For Warrington residents, the practical impact depends on whether the local Waitrose branch is among the 35 selected. Waitrose operates around 320 shops nationally, but the retailer has not published a full postcode list of the branches participating in the extended-hours scheme. Customers can confirm inclusion by searching for "Waitrose" on the three partner delivery apps.
- Orders through Deliveroo, Uber Eats or Just Eat are eligible for the extended hours.
- In-store opening hours remain unchanged; extended delivery does not affect physical shop times.
- Alcohol will not be delivered outside a store’s usual licensed hours.
- Delivery availability and estimated times will vary by location and app; some orders can arrive in as little as 20 minutes.
Services and limits
The rapid delivery offer covers a broad range of items, from fresh produce and ready meals to toiletries and cleaning products. Waitrose emphasises the service is limited to orders placed via its third-party app partners and does not change the supermarket’s own trading hours.
| Delivery partner | Typical extended window |
|---|---|
| Deliveroo | Until midnight (selected branches) |
| Uber Eats | Until midnight (selected branches) |
| Just Eat | Until midnight (selected branches) |
Waitrose said the trial showed extended-hour demand persisted even after matches finished, prompting the decision to make the change permanent at the chosen shops. The retailer is continuing to expand its presence on third-party apps to meet rising demand for fast grocery deliveries.
Warrington shoppers who want to take advantage of the new hours should check the delivery apps directly to see whether their local branch is included, and should note that availability of items and delivery speed will vary by platform and local demand.
