Do you want to supply Waitrose?

As a guide, however, here are some simple points to consider:

• Quality - Waitrose looks for suppliers who offer quality ingredients combined with very high standards of preparation and cooking skills.
• Provenance and integrity - Ingredients should be simple, recognisable and, where possible, sourced from the local region.
• Presentation - Check your product has visual appeal and appropriate packaging.
• Offer point of difference - Innovative products are most likely to compliment the existing Waitrose offer.

Our requirements

There are some key points that any potential supplier needs to be aware of supplying safe and legal food.

• Waitrose require all suppliers to show they have a comprehensive HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) which is documented, implemented and subject to continual update and review. It is also essential for suppliers to demonstrate the competency and qualifications of the person who writes and manages the HACCP on a day to day basis.
• Traceability is not just a legal requirement, but essential for Waitrose Local and Regional suppliers to ensure the claims made on pack and other marketing statements are substantiated. Traceability means suppliers must be able to demonstrate they can establish the origin of all their raw materials and show documentation of supplier names and batch codes. Traceability systems must also be able to show where all the manufactured product is sold in case of of product recalls.
• The SALSA (Safe And Local Supplier Approval) scheme has recently been unched at the IFE and Waitrose endorse the principles of this scheme and will look to integrate this scheme into their Local and Regional sourcing strategies in the future. The scheme is designed to help local and regional food and drink producers by offering both mentoring and auditing to ensure safe and legal products, giving Waitrose assurance of product compliance.
• All products require a bar code to be sold in our stores.

A new product will typically follow this route to reach the Waitrose shelves:

• Producer calls the...
• Regional Food Group to ask about the...
• Waitrose 'Meet the Buyer' event
  (The regional food group will give advice to the supplier on how to prepare for this meeting)
• Attends 'Meet the Buyer' Event
  (Where you will be expected to supply information on your business and product, including packaging and specification)
• Product sent to Waitrose Buyer
• Discussion between you and Waitrose
  (You will discuss pricing and delivery options, etc with an aim to getting your product on the shelf)

There are many ways to become a Waitrose supplier but the preferred route is through the Regional Food Groups. We do find new suppliers through other routes but the benefit to the supplier is that by contacting their local Regional Food Group in the first instance, they can offer help and guidance in the selection process.

Working in partnership with the eight English Regional Food Groups enables us to benefit from their extensive knowledge of local suppliers, ensuring that we source products which our customers regard as local and regional. The groups understand what Waitrose are looking for in terms of provenance, quality, taste, packaging and food safety standards, ensuring that potential suppliers meet our criteria.

The Regional Food Groups provide a valuable support service to those suppliers looking to work with a supermarket, especially if it is for the first time, from the initial 'meet the buyer' through to the product being listed in store. For further information on other trade development opportunities, available through the regional food groups programmes, please use the links below.

The Regional Food Groups each host up to two 'Meet the Waitrose Buyer' events a year, providing an excellent opportunity for both the supplier and the buyer who be will looking for high quality produce that meets our expectations.

Regional Food Group Contacts

Find your nearest contact on our map