Due to the increased capacity, the centre will give customers enhanced levels of service, the supermarket claims.
Waitrose has offered online shopping in London since July this year and, until now, orders have been met by 19 existing branches in the capital which have seen staggering increases in volumes.
The new 37,000 sq ft Dotcom Fulfilment centre is just like a normal supermarket but, instead of customers shopping the aisles, Waitrose employees follow the one-way system around the centre with extra large trolleys that mean they can pick products from shelves, chillers, freezers, bakery and dedicated service counter areas (for fresh meat, fish, cheese and deli) for six orders at a time.
The centre will initially handle two thousand orders a week from customers but this number is expected to grow significantly over the coming months. Working in parallel with the centre, fourteen Waitrose branches will continue to deliver orders for customers in some parts of the city.
In developing the centre, Waitrose has focused on giving customers top quality service while making efficient use of resources. The facility has been created in six months from a former John Lewis distribution centre with a relatively modest investment of £3m in conversion costs.
Mark Price, MD of Waitrose, said: “We see huge potential for our online business across the country and in the important London market and this new Fulfilment centre is a big step forward in meeting the incredibly strong demand for Waitrose products, service and value in the capital.”
Source: Waitrose
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