Waitrose hires new head of hospitality operations
Waitrose has appointed Rebecca Hemsley as head of hospitality operations as part of plans to grow its food service and hospitality offer.
Hemsley will join the business in January 2016 from Pret a Manger where she was head of commercial operations.
Waitrose director of retail services Helen Keppel-Compton said: “Rebecca brings a depth of food service experience that will be invaluable in supporting the successful development and delivery of our food service and hospitality offer, a key part of continuing to provide compelling reasons to shop in Waitrose.”
The supermarket is committed to investing in giving customers reasons to visit its branches by offering services they cannot get online. Waitrose now operates 118 cafes, 60 bakery cafes, eight juice bars and five wine bars. It also has 83 branches with outside seating.