London, 2017-Jul-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Waitrose has appointed Simon Burdess as its first Director of Food Service.
As the supermarket develops its casual dining and grazing in branches, this newly created role will see Simon lead on the development of Waitrose’s food service offer.
Simon, who will join the business in September, is currently Vice President, Restaurants and Bars, with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®).
He also has 20 years’ experience in the retail industry, having previously been Commercial Director for Fortnum and Mason, and various commercial roles at Marks & Spencer, including as Category Manager for in store hospitality.
Ben Stimson, Retail Director at Waitrose, said: ‘We want our shops to be places where customers will feel excited by and inspired by food – and evolving our food service offer is vital in achieving this. Simon brings a wealth of experience which will be invaluable in ensuring our hospitality makes our shops dynamic and vibrant places to visit.’
Notes to editors
Waitrose – winner of the Best Supermarket¹ and Best Food and Grocery Retailer² awards – currently has 354 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 64 convenience branches, and another 27 shops at Welcome Break locations. It combines the convenience of a supermarket with the expertise and service of a specialist shop – dedicated to offering quality food that has been responsibly sourced, combined with high standards of customer service. Waitrose also exports its products to 58 countries worldwide and has seven shops which operate under licence in the Middle East. Waitrose’s omnichannel business includes the online grocery service, waitrose.com, as well as specialist online shops including waitrosecellar.com for wine, and waitrosekitchen.com for cookware, utensils and kitchen gadgets.
¹ Which? Customer Survey
² Verdict Customer Satisfaction Awards
Enquiries
For more information, please contact:
Waitrose Press Office
Telephone: 01344 825 080
Source: Waitrose