UK | Waitrose has announced it is extending on-demand grocery delivery hours over the next four weeks of the World Cup to support football fans throughout the night.
To meet customer demand following late-night and early morning matches, the retailer has launched an expanded delivery window.
While specific hours vary by location, most participating shops now operate until midnight, with some even open 24/7.
The expanded window will be available in more than 50 Waitrose stores across England and Scotland, ensuring customers can access quality fresh food and snacks throughout the night, from snacks and pizzas to full breakfast ingredients for the following morning.
Orders during England’s first game against Croatia last Wednesday, and ahead of Scotland's game against Morocco on Friday evening, jumped by 17 percent.
The Waitrose website has also seen a huge increase in searches for foods, including: 'No.1 pizza' up 1,700 percent, 'deli & dips' up 156 percent, 'football cake' up 210 percent and 'World cup crisps' up 1,400 percent.
The retailer plans to roll out the expanded service to more locations if it proves popular with customers.
The slots will be available through Waitrose's strategic partnerships with leading delivery platforms, including Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat, providing a seamless and convenient experience for on-demand shoppers.
Waitrose shops won’t be extending trading hours and alcoholic drinks won’t be available during the expanded delivery period.
"Whether you're glued to the screen for a midnight thriller, need a snack to sustain you through a penalty shoot-out or up with the lark for a pre-dawn kick-off, footy fans will have everything they need at hand,” said Laura Burbedge, Director of Online for Waitrose.
"We're making sure that whether you need a half-time pizza or a full breakfast spread to celebrate the final whistle, our delivery partners are on hand to keep your fridge stocked throughout the tournament."
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