Supermarket giant Waitrose has been forced to pay out compensation to nearly 400 customers after a IT glitch meant online deliveries had to be cancelled. Just days before Christmas, Waitrose this morning confirmed that "due to a technical issue" it had been unable to pick orders for some online customers.
It is believed that 200 deliveries were cancelled yesterday and the same number again this morning. Waitrose insisted that the vast majority of orders were made and that orders were now being processed "as normal".
Waitrose has been building up in its own internet infrastructure amid growing rumours over the future of its partnership with Ocado, where the online grocer has a deal to deliver Waitrose-branded food and drink nationwide.
Most Waitrose.com orders are "picked" in branches, and the supermarket also has its own online fulfilment centre in Acton, west London.
In a statement today Waitrose said: "Unfortunately due to a technical issue we were unable to pick orders yesterday for some of our online customers. Our branches worked hard to get as many orders as they could out to affected customers and we have offered additional slots this week and compensation for customers who did not receive their orders. We're very sorry for the inconvenience to our customers and have contacted all those affected to apologise. Orders are now being processed as normal."
