Waitrose mini-supermarket at Warwick Southbound, located right of the main entrance, on the concourse, between the Starbucks lounge and WHSmith store. There’s lots of competition between WHSmith and Waitrose, but the two stores attract different customers. Waitrose has a greater focus on luxury food products, whereas WHSmith sells more travel essentials. Waitrose has traded at Warwick South since September 2009, taking up space from WHSmith and the former Coffee Primo lounge (now Starbucks). Welcome Break introduced Waitrose to their sites following Moto’s success of rolling out M&S Simply Food. Introducing premium-style supermarkets to motorway services makes them more attractive to motorists, potentially increasing their turn-in rate (Warwick’s is fairly high at 10%). Waitrose wanted to expand their business beyond high street stores, so opened their smallest store at Newport Pagnell North in 2009. Immediately, it was profitable, so they opened 9 more, including this store. It’s a clean, well-organised store. Some of the product range here “spills out” onto the main concourse as the store isn’t large enough. Waitrose do slightly inflate their prices at motorway services due to high demand, but commonly, customers don’t notice as Waitrose charge high prices across the country due to their “premium” status. There is a nice large skylight above this Waitrose, in addition to Welcome Break’s 2014/15 flooring scheme. This Waitrose obtains a StarbucksOnTheGo stand. Waitrose is open at Warwick Southbound between 7am-10pm. When it’s closed, customers can use WHSmith, which remains open 24/7. It’s possible that this store could be rebranded “Little Waitrose” when the next refurbishment happens, as Welcome Break’s newest Waitrose stores seem to be branded as such. Waitrose was surprisingly quiet during my visit, despite the fact Warwick South was filled with coach customers, and that typically, Waitrose is a popular facility at Welcome Break sites. These stores are horrible to use when busy. Waitrose is signposted from the M40 Southbound, so customers can expect to find this store here. Waitrose is also advertised lots around the site & from the exterior of the amenity building.

Photo taken on 24/06/2024 by Tom Moon.

Assigned to galleries: Warwick, Waitrose, M40, Welcome Break