Waitrose has partnered with celebrity chefs Michel Roux, Angela Hartnett, Rick Stein and Andi Oliver (above l-r) to launch nine new dishes.

Pairing up with Dishpatch – which it acquired in 2024 – the Waitrose dinners arrive mostly prepared, requiring only simple finishing touches by the customer, “bridging the gap between full cooking and ready meals”, said the retailer.

This model presents a step up from standard meal kits or convenience ready meals: the proposition is premium convenience tied to name chefs and elevated ingredients, rather than cost-base volume.

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Laura Tudor, made to order food manager at Waitrose, said: “This festive season, elevate your feasting with ease.”

Prices vary by dish. Individual items start from about £20, while fuller menus or more premium items are a higher price, for example £95 for the Wellington main.

Chef and television broadcaster Andi Oliver.

The collection includes:

• Angela Hartnett’s modern Italian Christmas menu (e.g. stuffed duck with marsala gravy)
• Rick Stein’s seafood offerings, including lobster & king prawn velouté pie
• Andi Oliver’s Caribbean-inspired menu (spiced rum & maple-glazed ham; prawn mac & cheese)
• Michel Roux’s French classic take, such as Beef Wellington with peppercorn sauce

Customers must place orders by 15 December, for Christmas, or 21 December, for New Year’s Eve.

Collections will be available via Waitrose stores during (22–24 December and 29–31 December.