Waitrose Dorking has provided our town with fresh produce and daily essentials for the past 60 years. Even during lockdown and the global pandemic, Waitrose Dorking continued to supply our larders and fridges with everything we need whilst we maintained the stay at home order. We caught up with Waitrose Dorking’s Partner & Branch Manager Ken Storr to discuss this momentous milestone for the store.
Waitrose in Dorking has undergone many changes to their store location but have always remained at the heart of the town centre. Asking Ken what was different from then and now, “Supermarketing is now more about speed and ease. We have self checkouts, self scan, grocery collections and deliveries. Despite this, what has remained the same is the connection our Partners have with the people of Dorking. We are a community Branch and with many of our Partners living in and around Dorking it all adds to the fantastic family feel we have here.” Ken even shares that some of the Partners at Waitrose Dorking have been there for over 20 years!
To celebrate their 60 years of operation in Dorking, they have created a visual display along with a memory book. Waitrose Dorking have also produced a photo using the faces of all the Partners to spell out the number 60. Ken tells me that, when restrictions are eased, there shall be a big party to celebrate the occasion. Cheers!
Asking what the next 60 years have in store for Waitrose, Ken informs me that the future of supermarkets will be more technology led. They will have far less waste, be that packaging or food and they will offer more experiences for shoppers to ensure that there is a point of difference between coming into a shop and shopping online. Remaking on this, Ken adds “One thing that I hope does not change is the connection that our Partners have with their community”. Here’s to the next 60 years for Waitrose Dorking!
You can shop online or visit in store. Opening hours are available here. Thank you to Ken Storr and to all the Partners at Waitrose Dorking for their hard work during this unprecedented year.
