Waitrose hikes price of 24 essentials in sign of continued inflation
Waitrose has raised the price of at least 24 key essential items in the last month, in a sign of continued inflation.
Tinned spaghetti, peanut butter and buttery spread have all increased in price over the past week, according to this week’s Key Value Items tracker, and 24 Waitrose Essentials items have become pricier in the past month.
The hikes come after The Grocer revealed Waitrose was asking suppliers to add “deflation proposals” to joint business plans.
All of the 24 Waitrose Essentials items to experience price hikes were previously part of Waitrose price cut initiatives in February and June.
The biggest proportional price increase was on Essential Mixed Beans in a Spicy Tomato Sauce 395g, which rose 20p (25%) to £1.00 in the month to 7 November.
Meanwhile, Essential Large Peanuts Roasted & Salted 500g increased 40p (21%) from £1.90 in February to £2.30 on 5 October – higher than the original price of £2.10 last year.
Similarly, Waitrose’s Essential Roasted Salt Peanuts 200g were up 20p (20%) to £1.20.
Its Essential Raspberries 150g rose nearly as steeply, up 35p (18%) to £2.35, whilst Essential Blueberries 150g have risen in price three times since being cut to £1.60 in February. They’ve increased 40p in total to hit the £2 mark (25%) in the past week. This is the same as the price last year.