Waitrose is set to trial airport retailing with the launch of its first store at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) planned for May 2026. This follows a recent partnership between John Lewis Partnership (JLP) and Lagardère Travel Retail (LTR), which will see a Waitrose-Relay collaboration across LHR.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) Facilitating Collaboration
JLP and LTR are set to introduce a dual-branded Waitrose-Relay shop in LHR following their recent collaboration.
Waitrose is the grocery arm of the John Lewis Partnership (JLP). Known for its premium food ranges, including its No. 1 premium range, Waitrose is a high-end supermarket in the UK. Lagardère Travel Retail (LTR) is a subsidiary of French parent company Lagardère. LTR owns an expansive range of global travel brands, including Relay and Tech2Go, both of which offer travel essentials mainly in airports, with the latter specialising in technology.
When Heathrow Terminal 2 first opened in 2014, JLP opened a large John Lewis department store which measured 36,000 square feet. The store struggled until it became financially unviable, closing its doors in 2020. It was one of eight John Lewis stores to do so due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been suggested since that the closure of the airport branch in 2020 was due not only to the store’s size and layout, but also partly because the JLP name was relatively niche outside the UK.
On the other hand, LTR is a leading global travel retailer, operating over 5,000 stores in airports, railway stations and other concessions in over 50 countries. Among its considerable number of affiliate branches in airports, the most common are Relay stores. The subsidiary is experienced in providing services and products relating to food, beverage, and fashion retail within the airport sector, and has seen strong performance.
Partnership Aims to Expand Reach and Reduce Risk
JLP will be partnering with LTR in an attempt to broaden its scope by appealing more to international consumers, and improve its global marketing strategy. JLP and LTR will introduce an array of Waitrose items in four of LTR’s pre-existing Relay shops in Terminal 2 of Heathrow Airport. The partnership will also introduce dual Waitrose-Relay branding at these shops. The Commercial Director of Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland, Nichola Dunne, commented on the partnership:
“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.”
The Waitrose products included in this partnership will consist primarily of their premium range of food-to-go items, as well as quick travel essentials and last-minute goods that prioritise convenience. This partnership will push the Waitrose name out to a more international market without too much risk, and provide the brand with support from LTR’s experience in travel retail. Charlotte Di Cello, Waitrose Chief Commercial Officer, confirmed that the collaboration was a positive developmental step for Waitrose:
“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.”
The four stores are due to open by the end of 2026, with three being airside and therefore only accessible to passengers flying via the airport, and one store landside, accessible to anyone.
Will you be using the Waitrose-Relay stores when you travel through London Heathrow? Let us know in the comments.
