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Waitrose Bets on 48°C Fridges as UK Heatwaves Reshape Grocery Costs
Waitrose is rolling out 48°C-rated refrigeration after UK heatwaves caused empty aisles at multiple grocers. The upgrades signal a sector-wide capital spending shift as older equipment fails under sustained heat.
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Waitrose is rolling out refrigeration systems rated to 48°C, the latest sign that extreme summer heat is forcing supermarket capital spending that was once optional. The John Lewis Partnership-owned chain is combining heat pumps with standard chillers to keep products cold during prolonged high temperatures, and is installing upgraded fridges across its estate while the more advanced technology continues development.
Retail director Tina Mitchell called the new equipment "more resilient than older equipment" and said the upgrades would improve product freshness, store reliability and energy efficiency. The investment follows a summer that saw empty chilled aisles at multiple supermarkets after temperatures hit 35°C or above in May, June and July for the first time on record, according to Met Office data. A provisional 37.7°C reading in Norfolk on 26 June broke the UK's June record.
Waitrose's parent company reported 28 stores received full refrigeration replacements in the 2025/26 financial year, using water-cooled systems with lower global-warming potential. It had also installed heat-pump technology at 69 shops by year-end. The new 48°C-rated systems represent the next step.