Waitrose deliver

UK supermarket Waitrose has spent £10m (€12m) relaunching its online home-delivery service.

The investment has been made after Waitrose’s owner, the John Lewis Partnership, sold its stake in internet grocer Ocado and renegotiated a supply agreement with its rival.

Waitrose.com will compete with Ocado in the lucrative London market for the first time, believing the “personal touches” on its new website will help attract customers.

For example, consumers can make specific requests for a green banana or a single onion that might be needed for a recipe.

The online grocery market is expected to become increasingly competitive as other UK retailers, including Morrisons and Marks & Spencer, consider their own entries into the sector.