Waitrose issues shopper notice amid controversial change

The major supermarket brand has become the latest retailer to increase its meal deal prices, raising them from £5 to £5.50, which is a 10 per cent increase.

It is the first time the supermarket has increased the price of its meal deal since introducing it in 2023.

The price change has brought a reaction online, with some bounce-back on X from frustrated customers.

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One shopper posted: “Waitrose meal deal up 10 per cent, games gone. #inflation #housingcrisis #gamesgone.”

Another added: “A 10 per cent increase in the price of the Waitrose lunchtime meal deal to £5.50?!

“With Tesco and Boots even closer to my office, I guess that’s the last time I’ll have a Waitrose lunch.”

An official Waitrose responded to the criticism with a shopper notice and said: “We’re committed to offering high-quality products.

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“While some of our prices may be higher, they reflect the quality of our ingredients, our commitment to animal welfare, responsible sourcing and support for British farmers and producers.

“We also regularly offer promotions and loyalty rewards to give our customers the best possible value.”

This comes amid a separate customer notice on the coffee machines in the Oxford store on Botley Road today (Tuesday, June 16).

Both coffee dispensers at the shop are out of order, with one of them having leaked coffee as well as other liquids over the floor.

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Staff had to soak up the mess with paper towels, while the area has been cordoned off with yellow wet floor signs.

“This time it’s got a leak, there’s an engineer on 24-hour call-out who should be on his way,” said a member of staff.

Last month, the two coffee dispensers at the Botley Road Waitrose were out of order for about a week.

One of the dispensers was eventually fixed, but then broke again, leaving customers with the choice of going without their free coffee or buying one from the store’s cafe.

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Both dispensers were up and running for a short time, but now one has broken again – leaving staff and customers upset.

The issue is not a countrywide problem – coffee machines at other Waitrose stores, including the one in Abingdon, are working well.

One customer, who works on a nearby trading estate, said: “Like a lot of Waitrose customers, I enjoy the perk of getting a free coffee using my Waitrose card.

“I can’t believe this has happened for the third time in two months – it does make me wonder why they don’t invest in some new machines.”

The Waitrose chain, owned by the John Lewis Partnership, restored its free coffee offer in January 2025.