Waitrose & Partners has announced plans to introduce its packaging-free pilot project, Waitrose Unpacked, to three more stores in the UK.
In June of this year, the retailer launched a packaging-free trial in its Botley Road shop in Oxford as part of its efforts to minimise plastic packaging.
'Invaluable Feedback'
It will also extend the trial in Botley Road shop beyond its original end date of 18 August following an 'overwhelmingly positive response' by customers.
Commenting on the response, head of CSR for Waitrose & Partners, Tor Harris, said, "The reaction to Waitrose Unpacked has been incredible with the invaluable feedback from thousands of customers giving us the confidence that they are prepared to change how they shop with us."
Read More: Waitrose’s Packaging-Free Trial Shouldn’t Distract From Retailer’s Main Goals, Says Analyst
Store Trials
Trials will commence in Waitrose outlets in Cheltenham in Gloucestershire in September, and Abingdon and Wallingford in Oxfordshire in November.
All three shops will have a dedicated refillable zone with dispensers for dried products, frozen ‘pick and mix’, coffee, wine, and beer refills, as well as Ecover detergent and washing liquid refills.
A wide range of unpacked fruit and vegetables will also be available, the retailer added.
'Commercial Viability'
"We are keen to take the Unpacked concept forward and these additional tests will help us achieve this as well as understand its commercial viability," Harris added.
"Through working with our customers and suppliers we will continue to learn and develop ideas which have the potential to be rolled out more widely."
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
