Waitrose removes all Warburtons products from shelves over falling sales

Waitrose has removed all Warburtons products from its shelves in a row over falling sales and poor performance over the last year.

The supermarket claimed that Warbutons’ “performance didn’t meet expectations”, according to The Telegraph.

Crumpet sales in the retailer’s stores had fallen by 15% since the beginning of 2022 and the dispute – which first took place almost a year ago – means Waitrose is now the only major grocer to not stock the bakery brand’s products.

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However, Waitrose continues to sell products from Warburtons biggest rival, Hovis.

The bakery’s executive chairman Jonathan Warburton said that the removal of his products from Waitrose’s shelves was “a shame”.

A Waitrose spokesperson said: “We stopped selling Warburtons products a year ago after their performance didn’t meet our expectations.

“We focus on fantastic products at great value that our customers love and we remain open to working with Warburtons in the future.”

Warburton said: “At Warburtons, quality is paramount. We put an awful lot of care into the 2m products we bake and deliver to over 19,000 stores across the country every single day.

“We know that consumers recognise the quality, and value of our products and that is why we are the number one bakery brand in the UK.

“It is a shame that Waitrose chose to delist us last year and we would of course love to be back on their shelves in the future.”

The news comes as Warburtons MD Neil Campbell will be left the business after nine years in charge, leaving chairman Jonathan Warburton to step into his place at Britain’s biggest bakery brand in September.