Waitrose & Partners Invests £1 Billion in Heat-Resilient Refrigeration

Waitrose & Partners equipped more than 100 stores with advanced refrigeration systems as part of a £1 billion investment program designed to maintain chilled product availability during extreme heat. The move follows a summer in 2026 where the United Kingdom experienced eight days with temperatures exceeding 34C, leading to refrigeration failures at several supermarket chains.

The upgraded technology includes redesigned chilled cabinets that retain cold air more efficiently and is currently active in branches including Newbury, Bloomsbury, Barnet, and Menai Bridge. Retail Director Tina Mitchell stated that customers expect to shop for fresh food regardless of the weather and noted that the latest technology is more resilient than older equipment.

To address future climate trends, the retailer is developing next-generation cooling systems that combine refrigeration with heat pumps. These upcoming systems are designed to remain functional in temperatures reaching up to 48C.