Waitrose, like many other companies in the UK, has been significantly growing its online operations. An acceleration of this sector of its business during the Covid 19 pandemic means that Waitrose has been able to add more than 100,000 customer order slots each week.

It is an operation on a grand scale. The company now delivers to nearly 90% of postcodes across the UK and the Waitrose Rapid service has tripled its deliveries to 7,000 per week, with at least 40% of the slots reserved for vulnerable customers.  This expansion of the Waitrose online business as well as its bricks and mortar store network has sustainability at its core. The Ethics & Sustainability Progress Report of Waitrose’s group company, The John Lewis Partnership, showcases the retailer's intention to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points for customers and Partnership vans in its shop car parks. 

This shift away from petrol and diesel demonstrates how Waitrose are taking tangible steps to act on climate change, with every day a step closer to the UK’s 2050 target of net zero emissions of greenhouse gases. Supporting John Lewis and Waitrose in the development of this EV infrastructure is Pop Up Power Supplies. It has provided freestanding bollards which are complete with 1 or 2 x 16 amp single phase power sockets. Each freestanding power bollard will be used to supply electricity to the growing fleet of delivery vans for both online groceries and John Lewis shopping.

The power bollards provide safe, secure and easy connectivity to a power source in outdoor locations with an elegant design that complements other street furniture or site aesthetics. The bollards selected for Waitrose all feature the Parc Paris contemporary style top, a design that was agreed with the contractors who work closely with John Lewis. The power bollards are one of the three outdoor power solutions available from Pop Up Power Supplies. It also provides a range of retractable service units and in-ground power units which are configured to meet the requirements of outdoor spaces to offer on-demand electricity and water connection points. 

The Pop Up Power Supplies range caters for almost every type of outdoor application, from historic sites, marketplaces and town centres to parks, university campuses and sports stadia.

Pop Up Power Supplies’ George Parker said, “We’re delighted that our power bollards have been selected for installation at Waitrose and John Lewis sites to power their growing electric vehicle fleet. We've worked with clients up and down the country, providing efficient, sympathetic utility solutions in busy public areas including Chelsea Football Club, Edinburgh Castle, Covent Garden to name just a few.”

For further information on the range of outdoor power units from Pop Up Power Supplies visit www.popuppower.co.uk or call 0208 2270208.