Neil Perry is Content Director for Outlook Publishing.
- Content Director
Share
Waitrose is entering airport retail for the first time, using a wholesale partnership model to expand its food-to-go offer into travel hubs and reach new customer occasions.
Waitrose enters airport retail through Heathrow Terminal 2 partnership
The iconic retailer will launch its products in four RELAY stores in Heathrow Terminal 2, marking a new channel for the brand as it looks to grow beyond its core supermarket and online footprint. The first store is scheduled to open in May 2026, with all four locations due to be operational by the end of the year.
The partnership is with Lagardère Travel Retail, operator of the RELAY brand. Three of the stores will be located airside and one landside.
Targeting high-traffic food-to-go demand in travel retail
The move brings Waitrose into a high-traffic travel environment. Heathrow Terminal 2 serves around 20 million arriving and departing passengers a year, providing access to a large base of time-pressed consumers seeking convenient, ready-to-eat food options.
Each store will offer a range of Waitrose food-to-go products tailored to passengers, including items from the brand’s No. 1 range. The range will include sandwiches, wraps, salads, sushi, snack pots and fresh fruit. Breakfast options such as baked goods, granola, juices and smoothies will also be available, alongside Waitrose meal deals.
The first store, located airside on the upper level, will be open seven days a week from 5am to 10pm.
The airport expansion forms part of Waitrose’s broader strategy to grow through new locations and channels, alongside continued investment in its own shops and online business.
“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.”
Charlotte Di Cello, Chief Commercial Officer, Waitrose
For Lagardère Travel Retail, the partnership reflects a focus on enhancing food-to-go propositions within travel environments.
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. The partnership demonstrates our ability to leverage our cross-business line expertise and partner with leading High Street brands to adapt their offer to the specific needs of travellers.”
Expanding brand reach through new retail formats
The Heathrow launch builds on Waitrose’s existing presence, which includes 320 shops and a strong online business, as well as agreements with brands like Welcome Break and Shell.
The move into airport retail represents a further step in extending the brand into high-footfall, convenience-led environments.
This article was produced by the editorial team at Food & Beverage Outlook and published as part of the Outlook Publishing global network of B2B industry magazines.
Outlook Publishing delivers industry insights, company stories, and sector coverage across food production, manufacturing, supply chains, construction, healthcare, mining, and sustainability.
Food & Beverage Outlook provides ongoing coverage of organisations and developments shaping the global food and beverage sector.
