New Waitrose stores at Heathrow set to enhance the business travel experience

12 May

Waitrose is entering airport retail for the first time through a new partnership at Heathrow Airport Terminal 2, bringing its food-to-go range to millions of passengers travelling through one of the world’s busiest international travel hubs.

The move will be of particular interest to UK business travel customers because it reflects growing investment in premium airport convenience retail, giving business travellers greater access to high-quality food options before flights and during tight travel schedules. For frequent flyers using Heathrow for domestic and international business travel, improved access to fresh meals, snacks and grab-and-go products can help make airport journeys more efficient and comfortable.

Waitrose has announced a wholesale partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail, operator of the RELAY brand, which will see Waitrose products stocked in four RELAY stores in Heathrow Terminal 2. Three of the stores will be located airside, with one landside, and all are expected to open by the end of 2026.

The first store is scheduled to open in May and will operate seven days a week from 5am until 10pm, targeting passengers seeking convenience, value and quality while travelling through Heathrow.

According to the press release, the stores will offer a tailored range of Waitrose food-to-go products, including items from the retailer’s premium No.1 range. Travellers will be able to purchase sandwiches, wraps, salads, sushi, snack pots and fresh fruit, alongside breakfast products such as croissants, granola, juices and smoothies. RELAY stores will also offer Waitrose meal deals.

Charlotte Di Cello, Chief Commercial Officer at Waitrose, said:

“Launching at Heathrow marks our first move into airport retail and an important step in growing our brand by bringing our offer to more customers in high-traffic locations. In partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail and RELAY, our food-to-go offer will launch in four stores in Terminal 2 by the end of the year, building on the progress we’re already making in travel retail, alongside continued investment in our own shops and online offer.”

Nicholas Dunne, Commercial Director of Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland, said:

“This partnership with Waitrose marks a significant step in our ambition to elevate the food-to-go experience within our blended Travel Essentials offer. By bringing one of the UK’s most trusted premium food brands to Relay at Heathrow Terminal 2, we are combining quality, convenience and strong brand recognition to better serve passengers in a fast-paced environment.”

Heathrow Terminal 2 handles around 20 million arriving and departing passengers each year, giving Waitrose exposure to a substantial new customer base while also supporting its broader strategy of growth through additional retail channels and locations.

Paul Baker, Sales Director of Global Travel Management, said:

“Business travellers increasingly expect airports to deliver the same quality, convenience and choice they experience on the high street. The introduction of Waitrose products at Heathrow Terminal 2 is another example of how the airport experience is evolving to better support modern business travel, particularly for travellers managing busy schedules and long international journeys.”

The announcement also highlights the continued expansion of airport retail partnerships and enhanced passenger services across major UK travel hubs, reflecting ongoing investment in the overall traveller experience for both leisure and business travel passengers.

Waitrose is part of the John Lewis Partnership, the UK’s largest employee-owned business, and currently operates more than 320 shops alongside its online business and retail partnerships.

For further information about flights from Heathrow, contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.