Revolutionary Ideas

It wasn’t long before Spedan became uneasy that he, his brother and his father were receiving more income from the family business than all their employees put together. After a riding accident forced him to have two operations and a long period of recovery, he thought deeply about his own future and that of the business. He was eager to share his profits with his staff and to redistribute money which was being kept in reserve.

In order to do this, Spedan decided he would have to make the business into a limited liability company, distributing the profits to the employees in the form of shares in proportion to their pay. His father’s reaction to this suggestion – and to his inevitable smaller share of the retained profits – was somewhat negative.

The Experiment

It was in 1914 that John Lewis Senior handed over the entire managerial control of the Peter Jones shop to Spedan, who became the shop’s chairman and its nominal managing director. He was then free to start putting his forward-thinking ideas into practice. However, his father made him continue to work until 5pm at the Oxford Street shop, and the Peter Jones business was doing badly.

Spedan’s first move was to shorten the working day by an hour and to start a departmental system of commission. He also set up the staff committees in which elected representatives held regular meetings with him in the absence of their managers. This system is still in operation.

Spedan had a serious disagreement with his father in 1916 that was to shape the future of the John Lewis Partnership. He withdrew from active participation in the Oxford Street shop and swapped his quarter-share of the business for his father’s controlling holding in the capital of Peter Jones Limited.

Over the next few years he made further changes at Peter Jones, giving the staff a third week’s holiday, taking on unusually well educated people for management posts, and starting The Gazette (our internal news publication which is still published in the Partnership today).

In 1919 he set up a staff council (the forerunner of today’s Partnership, Divisional and Branch Councils). His employee-ownership and democratic business model ideas were starting to flourish and Peter Jones was commercially, all the better for it.

Family & Business

Spedan Lewis married Sarah Beatrice Mary Hunter in 1923. She was one of five women graduates recruited as buyers the previous year and became deputy chairman of the Partnership after their marriage. They had three children: John, who sadly died as a child, Jill (1927-68) and Edward (1929-2008).

Spedan’s mother died in 1924 and the long disagreement between him and his father was made up. In 1926, Oswald gave his brother his share in the Oxford Street shop, and control of both stores passed to Spedan, although his father was still very much involved with the day-to-day running of the business. Spedan immediately started to apply his ‘Partnership’ ideals to the Oxford Street shop as well, and bought the Odney Club at Cookham, Berkshire, in the same year (one of 5 Partnership hotels that we still enjoy today).

John Lewis Senior died in 1928, aged 92, leaving Spedan sole owner of both stores. He expanded his shop still further down Oxford Street. He also converted the John Lewis firm into a public company – John Lewis and Company Limited – creating capital for expansion.

The Partnership is Born

On 18 April 1929 Spedan Lewis signed the First Trust Settlement, transferring his own shares in John Lewis Ltd, Peter Jones Ltd and the Odney Estate to a board of trustees on behalf of the Partners. He also created the John Lewis Partnership Limited.

In return he would receive bonds worth £1 million over the following 30 years. He retained complete practical control but took no more income from the business.

Twenty-one years later, on 26 April 1950, Spedan signed the Second Trust Settlement, effectively ‘giving’ the Partnership to the people who work in it. By this act he transferred all his remaining shares and his ultimate control to the trustees. The John Lewis Partnership expanded during the remainder of the 20th century into the business we know today.

Waitrose Joins the Partnership

The Partnership bought Waitrose Ltd in October 1937. At the time it was a London-based family business with 10 grocery and provisions shops employing 164 staff. Wallace Wyndham Waite, who had opened his first shop with Arthur Rose and David Taylor in 1904, was still in charge.

The three men had started trading in Acton, west London. Their original shop soon expanded, and reopened in much larger premises in 1908, selling everything from fish to flowers. By 1920 there were more than 20 Waitrose shops throughout London and the Home Counties, but many shops had closed by 1930 after a decade of more difficult trading conditions.

The Partnership was attracted to Waitrose, said Spedan Lewis, by its ‘high reputation not only for the quality of its goods but also for the way in which it has been built up… It is no secret that many provision shops… have owed a good deal of their success to the bribing of servants of their customers. Messrs Waitrose Limited have never used any such methods.’

We All Own It

From a small drapers shop on Oxford Street to truly revolutionary ideas, the John Lewis Partnership today stands as a profound testament to the foresight of Spedan Lewis and his belief that a better way of doing business could be found. One that benefits its Partners, customers, suppliers and the world as a whole.

In an ever-changing 21st-century retail landscape, this enduring model of ownership remains our deepest strength. It is a structure where every individual is a Partner, with a shared stake in the collective future. This spirit, forged through a history of overcoming challenges, ensures that the Partnership, gifted by its founder to the people who work in it, remains strong, resilient, and ready to face the future and is anchored in unwavering conviction of our unique purpose – Working in Partnership for a Happier World.

The Newbury shop showcases strategic investments in the areas that matter most to food lovers:

Leading the way on fresh food expertise & quality

• A five metre Cheese Island, a first for the estate, featuring a curated selection of nearly 100 speciality cheeses and expert advice from Partners
• Expanded and modernised counters featuring a new ‘Meal Maker’ service, where Fishmongers and Butchers prepare cuts with free rubs and marinades. The area also includes a new Dry-Aged beef counter
• An expanded in-store bakery featuring exclusive new partnership with premium brand Ole & Steen, which will be rolled out to 35 stores
• A revitalised fruit and veg department championing sustainability, with its strongest-ever focus on organic, Fairtrade, and regeneratively-farmed produce
• Further investment in training – Partners in Beers, Wines & Spirits, Bakery, Counters, and the Café have completed additional training and qualifications from renowned organisations including, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Guild of Fine Food and specialist suppliers including Dovecote Park and Pilgrims

Enhancing the customer experience & in-store innovation

• Shoppers in Newbury will enjoy 10 new brand partnerships, spotlighting innovative and artisan producers such as Tap Social, Agua De Madre, and The Good Crisp Company
• A new ‘Food Lovers Hub’ offering seasonal recipe inspiration will offer all ingredients and wine pairings conveniently grouped together
• A new Delicatessen counter offers a personalised grazing box service
• A new Fine & Rare wine section complete with a blast wine chiller – an innovation that cools bottles to the perfect temperature in minutes
• A brand new Waite & Rose Café, representing a further investment in the store café experience for customers

Investing in Tech and first-to-market app

• Electronic shelf labels which free up Partners from having to insert printed labels and brand new hand held devices used to check stock and answer customer queries are being rolled out to all shops. Most shops will also have cash automation technology
• Shelf-edge cameras to help Partners spot stock gaps faster are being tested in Newbury and in six other shops
• Partners at the Newbury store will be the first to trial an innovative first-to-market AI app created by Waitrose to give them up-to-date product information enabling them to provide customers with outstanding service, and communicate their knowledge and passion for food.
• Responding to either text or voice requests, the app will give Partners answers on product availability and location, nutrition and sustainability, and even cooking and recipe recommendations

Nationwide shop investment programme

• Waitrose is investing in every shop nationwide, from refurbishments to new openings. The £1 billion, multi-year programme is designed to offer the very best products, service and shops for customers.
• In the past month, Waitrose has opened two brand new Little Waitrose shops – at The Arches, Bristol and Wandsworth New Acres – with a multitude of store transformations still to come.
• The retailer has also announced a new 360,000 sq ft distribution centre in Bristol, and in 2027, Waitrose’s first new full-line supermarket for seven years will open at Brabazon, an award-winning new town in Bristol.

The Ad, created by Saatchi & Saatchi, takes viewers to Christmas Day in a family household. Passing a son who’s in his own world with headphones on, the focus shifts to the Dad, who is by the tree on his hands and knees clearing up discarded wrapping paper.

Amongst the wrapping paper, he discovers an unopened present marked ‘Dad’ with a smiley face. Inside is a vinyl record of  Where Love Lives by Alison Limerick. He heads straight to his record player and drops the needle gently into the groove. As the opening bars of the 90s classic fill the room, he closes his eyes – and the power of the music evokes a core memory, transporting him back to the 1990s he remembers and loves.

Viewers are then taken on the Dad’s journey as he loses himself in the music. Suddenly, he’s in a 90s club, dancing with his friends. Through the strobe lights he spots his teenage son across the crowd. Calling out to him, the son begins to fade beneath the flashing lights as the music swells to a crescendo.

In the flashes of the strobe lights, the Dad calls for his son who – not as a teen, but as a toddler, takes his first steps towards him. Another flash, and the Dad holds his newborn son bundled tightly in his arms. The music becomes a bridge between memory and love, between then and now.

The scene shifts back to the present day, as Labrinth’s newly reimagined version of the track echoes softly. The Dad is in the living room when his son comes down the stairs and catches him enjoying his gift. The son looks on, slightly embarrassed, until his Dad pulls him an embrace. They share a quiet, unspoken moment – a wordless “thank you”, carrying the weight of “I know we aren’t as close as we used to be but I love you.”

Another much-loved perk is the complimentary monthly copy of the Waitrose Food magazine, This November, the supermarket is relaunching the popular magazine with an iconic new look. The refreshed read is designed specifically for food lovers, brimming with everyday inspiration, expert writers, elaborate occasion dishes and exciting weekend kitchen projects.

To enjoy all these benefits and more, shoppers simply need to head here to sign up.

Is a Supermarket Assistant a Good Job?

Yes — especially at Waitrose & Partners. Here’s why:

• You’re part of a co-owned business – as a Partner, you share in the success of the business through a range of benefits that include 5 exclusive hotels, discounts, and much more.
• You work in a supportive team – colleagues are friendly, helpful, and share a sense of pride in their work.
• You get to grow your skills – with our Partnership Academy that offers learning and development, and clear pathways to take your career in retail further.
• You get flexibility – to fit your shifts around your life and the moments that matter.
• You make a difference – every customer conversation is a chance to brighten someone’s day.
• Food to feel good about – you can be passionate about the amazing products we sell which are all ethically and sustainably sourced. We take great pride and care in making this our number one priority. It’s why we’ve won more Compassion in World Farming awards than any other supermarket.

What Skills Do You Need as a Supermarket Assistant?

You don’t need specific qualifications or experience to join Waitrose as a Supermarket Assistant, but there are strengths that will help you thrive:

• Great customer service – being friendly, clear, and approachable with customers and team members.
• Teamwork – working well with other Partners to keep everything running smoothly.
• A love for food – Helping customers find the products they love and recommending the ones they are yet to try.
• Eye for detail – noticing proactively when shelves need restocking or products need rotating.
• Time management – keeping on top of tasks during busy periods and arriving promptly for shifts.
• Ready for anything – switching between jobs and problem-solving on the go.

We’ll give you all the training you need, so enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are more important than prior experience.

How old do you have to be to be a supermarket assistant at Waitrose?

If you’re still in education, part-time roles can fit around your studies and give you valuable work experience while earning.

You’ll need to be at least 16 years old by the start of the new school year to work as a Supermarket Assistant. For more information, please visit here.

Some roles, such as night shifts, or combination roles where you also drive deliveries, have a higher minimum age of 18 due to the nature of the tasks involved.

What Makes a Good Supermarket Assistant?

At Waitrose, we look for someone who…

• Absolutely loves food, knows our products inside and out and can forge emotional connections with customers who are food-lovers too!
• Feel pride in keeping the shop looking its best, treating it as a shop-keeper and co-owner.
• Look out for the other Partners in your team with energy and a can-do attitude.
• Stays calm and helpful, even when the shop is busy.
• Understands you’re a co-owner, that can raise your voice and have a real impact on the way things are done at every level of the John Lewis Partnership.

Shares our vision of building a happier world for everyone — our people, our communities and the wider world.

We value kindness and professionalism as much as practical skills — having a genuine care for people goes a long way.

What Does a Day in the Life of a Supermarket Assistant Look Like?

Every day is different, but here’s an example of what your shift might involve:

Morning – Arrive before the shop opens to help the e-commerce team with deliveries, unpack goods, replenish bags around the shop and get fresh produce and bakery items on the shelves ready for customers.

Midday – Serve customers at the tills, answer questions on the shop floor, and restock shelves when needed.

Afternoon – Prepare displays for evening shoppers, tidy the shop, and check that all products are in date and correctly labelled. Prevent wastage by reducing items getting close to their sell-by-date.

You’ll be on your feet and moving around for much of your shift. It’s active, sociable work that keeps the day moving quickly. On average, Supermarket Assistants can walk 20,000 steps in a day!

Convenience Store Jobs at Little Waitrose

If you’re independent, have a broad set of skills and crave an even faster pace that keeps you on your toes, then you might be looking for convenience store jobs at a Little Waitrose & Partners.

You’ll bring customers the passionate, proactive and smart service we’re known for — right where they need it. In return you’ll work with a close-knit team and enjoy all our same Partner benefits as in a larger shop.

How Many Hours Do Supermarket Assistants Work?

Supermarket Assistant jobs at Waitrose could see you work full-time, part-time, or seasonal shifts. It all depends on what the team is looking for. We do our best to offer flexible working for all Partners that can help them achieve a good work/life balance.

• Part-time roles can range from 8–20 hours a week.
• Full-time roles are usually around 35–39 hours a week.

Shifts can be during the day, in the evening, or overnight (for replenishment roles). The flexibility makes it a popular choice for students, parents, and anyone wanting to balance work with other commitments.

What Experience Do You Get as a Supermarket Assistant?

Roles in our shops are a great way to build skills and confidence that can take you into other areas of retail, customer support, or even Head Office roles. You’ll gain:

• Customer service skills that are valued in almost every industry.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, team-based environment.
• Knowledge of stock management, food safety, and health & safety procedures.
• The ability to stay organised and efficient during busy periods.

At Waitrose, many Partners start as Supermarket Assistants and go on to roles as team leaders, managers, product specialists, or even into our Head Office teams.

Since 2017, we’ve seen over 5,000 Partners sign up for apprenticeships that have taken them to new specialities such as marketing, buying, merchandising or even design. With a Supermarket Assistant role, you could go beyond a convenient flexible opportunity that fits around your life right now to find a springboard for your future career.

For many, it’s not just a job. It’s the start of a career in retail with one of Britain’s most respected supermarket brands. There are so many ambitious career stories within all corners of the Partnership, from running our shops to beyond in Head Office, that started right here — sharing a passion for food on the shop floor.

Thinking about joining us? Explore our latest Waitrose Supermarket Assistant roles now and see how you could become part of helping people feel good about food every day.

Little Waitrose Wandsworth New Acres

Local residents and customers using Wandsworth Town Rail Station or the many bus routes in the area will find their new Little Waitrose Wandsworth New Acres is as perfectly placed for the fresh top up shop as it is for dinner from food lovers’ favourite – Waitrose No. 1

Customers can also restock with Essential Waitrose – the great value range which doesn’t compromise on quality, taste or animal welfare, and Waitrose Duchy Organic – kinder farming, better animal welfare and no pesticides across a wide range of categories; together with household brands and an in-store bakery. Lunchtime shoppers can take advantage of Waitrose’s popular £5 lunchtime meal deal which includes a main, a snack and a drink.

Local customers will be able to order home delivery from the shop using Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat, and pick up John Lewis and Waitrose Entertaining orders.

The opening of the shop has created 26 new local jobs. All new employees are now Partners in the John Lewis Partnership, the UK’s largest employee owned company which Waitrose is part of, along with John Lewis.

With more than 23 years of experience at the John Lewis Partnership, Chris Kern is moving across from the Hampton Hill Little Waitrose shop to be Branch Manager of Little Waitrose Wandsworth New Acres.

Chris said: “In my two decades with Waitrose, I’ve seen a host of new developments as we’ve adapted to suit our customers’ evolving needs, tastes and lifestyles. What will never change, however, is our commitment to great customer service and fantastic food.

“We’re ready to welcome our new customers in Wandsworth and be a part of this exciting new neighbourhood and community.”

Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney, Southfields, Roehampton and Wandsworth Town, said: “I’m delighted that a new Little Waitrose is opening in New Acres in Wandsworth with 26 new jobs. This investment is great news for our community, and is a great vote of confidence in Wandsworth by Waitrose.”

Shop Transformations

Building on the developments showcased at Waitrose John Barnes in Finchley Road, last month the Waitrose shops in Marylebone and Clerkenwell received a considerable upgrade with both now featuring:

• New Look Bakery and Improved Fruit & Vegetables Section
• New John Lewis Products: a small selection of John Lewis gifts and homeware.
• New Refrigeration: replaced for improved energy efficiency.
• Self Service Tills as well as staffed checkout: to provide greater choice.

In addition, at Waitrose Marylebone, customers can enjoy the enhanced meat and fish counters as well as a dedicated dry aged beef counter and an updated wine selection, including chilled white wine and champagne.

Since the refurbs, customers at the Marylebone branch have been driving sales of Clarence Court Burford Brown Eggs, Waitrose Scottish Mild Oak Smoked Salmon and No. 1 Speciality Blueberries, while in Clerkenwell, bestsellers include Waitrose All Butter Croissants, GLO Hot Smoked Salmon & Rice Salad and Cooks’ Ingredients Aromatic Coriander.

The rollout continues with the relaunch of Waitrose Coulsdon and the Crouch End and Old Brompton Road Little Waitrose shops by the end of the year, with even more branches in the capital to be renewed come 2026.

Serving Londoners

To keep up with the demand for home deliveries across the capital, Waitrose has two Customer Fulfilment Centres in Coulsdon and Greenford, delivering online orders purchased through Waitrose.com. Opened in March 2021, Greenford is Waitrose’s largest Customer Fulfilment Centre at around 115,000 sq ft. It holds over 18,000 lines and at capacity has 150 vans delivering 25,000 customer orders per week.

The Waitrose fleet is kept busy delivering Londoners’ must-haves with current bestsellers across the city including Waitrose Essential Loose Aubergines, Waitrose Mixed Olive Rolls,  Waitrose British Native Breed Beef Mince 5% Fat, Waitrose No. 1 Burrata, Waitrose Salt Beef & Mustard Mayo Sandwich and San Leo Prosecco DOC.

Nationwide Investment

Waitrose is investing in every shop nationwide, from refurbishments to new openings. The £1 billion, multi-year programme is designed to deliver the very best products, service and shops for customers.

Today’s news follows Waitrose’s investment in the Bristol area, with a new convenience store opening just last week in The Arches and the announcement of the retailer’s first distribution centre in the region. The 360,000 sq ft distribution centre at Mountpark’s Bristol 360 will deliver to around 50 current Waitrose shops, with the capacity to accommodate more.

In 2027, Waitrose’s first new full-line supermarket for seven years will open at Brabazon, an award-winning new town. The 30,000 sq ft store will create around 150 new jobs.

The refreshed Community Matters programme will also be open to nominations from customers or local charities and causes themselves.

Donations being given from Waitrose convenience stores are also being doubled, to match the core stores, which will increase the impact made in these areas overall.

Charities to call out from the programme:

In Waitrose Kenilworth, Compassionate Kenilworth, is a charity that strives to reduce social isolation and support vulnerable residents. It runs a bereavement café and provides breakfast at Kenilworth Secondary School for children who arrive hungry.

In Waitrose Maidenhead, customers will have the chance to vote for causes including Alzheimer’s Dementia Support (ADS), which hosts connection cafés, singing for pleasure and tea dances in the area

In West London, customers can support Streetlytes, a charity supporting the homeless and vulnerable across West London. Every Monday they open their doors to over 100 guests for an evening of hot food, practical support and friendship.

Marija Rompani, Director of Ethics & Sustainability at John Lewis Partnership added;  “We’d be nothing without the communities that are home to our stores. Through Community Matters, we can make a difference to the lives of local people through our love of food.

“It’s an exciting moment, as this programme has already donated over £50m to good causes. Now, with the return of our green tokens, customers can help us support local causes that are truly important to the people who live there.”

The tokens themselves will be made from 100% recycled nylon, and will be similar in look and feel to the previous design.

Tom’s team includes Baxter, a Partner and third-year photography student at the University of the West of England in Bristol, who captured imagery of the opening of the shop to accompany the announcement.

To celebrate the launch, the very first customer through the doors at 8am received a bouquet of flowers with additional early bird customers welcomed with the gift of a free tote bag.

Waitrose has confirmed further investment in the Bristol area with the launch due to be followed by the retailer’s first distribution centre in the region. The 360,000 sq ft distribution centre at Mountpark’s Bristol 360 is scheduled to open towards the end of 2026. It has been designed to deliver to around 50 current Waitrose shops, with the capacity to accommodate more.

The following year will see Waitrose’s first new full-line supermarket for seven years at Brabazon, an award-winning new town. The 30,000 sq ft store will create around 150 new jobs and join The Arches, Clifton and Westbury Park shops serving customers in Bristol.

The Little Waitrose shop is located at 1-3 Gloucester Road, The Arches, Bristol, BS7 8AA and is open from Monday to Sunday, 7am -10pm.

Kicking off with the launch of new seasonal ranges, the build up to Black Friday in November, before moving into Christmas and John Lewis’ famous January Winter Sale, the so-called golden quarter is the retailer’s busiest period of the year.

During the period, John Lewis is expected to welcome well over 30 million visitors to its shops – in addition to receiving over 180 million visits to its website. Its distribution centres will dispatch more than two deliveries each second. Meanwhile in the week leading up to Christmas, Waitrose Partners will pick and deliver over 8 million cases of product to its shops to help make sure that customers have everything they need for a perfect celebration.

Successful candidates will receive a competitive salary and training, as well as flexible and blended working options. Seasonal shop roles are live at www.jlpjobs.com/Christmas.

The national expansion will bring similar transformations to the Bluewater, Solihull, and Cambridge stores before the end of 2025. Upon completion, John Lewis will offer over 540 beauty counters, almost 70 dedicated treatment rooms, and more than 400 distinct beauty services nationwide.