Waitrose might not be the first supermarket that comes to mind for bargains, but their yellow sticker reductions can be surprisingly generous. If you know the timings, you can pick up premium produce, meat and bakery items for a fraction of the usual price.
Here’s everything you need to know about Waitrose reduction times and how to spot the best deals.
Waitrose reduction times
Waitrose reductions tend to follow a similar pattern across the UK, although every store has a little flexibility depending on staffing and how much stock needs clearing. Most branches reduce food in two or three waves.
First reductions: late morning
The first reductions usually appear late morning. These are small markdowns, often around 10% to 20%, and you’ll usually find them on:
• bakery items
• fresh produce
• sandwiches and lunch bits
• deli items close to date
If you’re doing a mid-morning shop, it’s always worth checking the reduced shelves.
Second reductions: late afternoon (around 4pm)
As the day goes on, Waitrose start taking prices down more noticeably. The 4pm window is a good time to visit if you’re hoping to pick up something for dinner or stock up the fridge.
Discounts at this stage are usually around 30% to 50%.
Final reductions: evening (from around 6pm)
The biggest reductions in Waitrose tend to appear from around 6pm onwards. These deeper markdowns can be brilliant for stocking up on high-quality items at low prices.
You might find:
• premium meat heavily reduced
• bakery items for pennies
• ready meals at a big discount
• veg and fruit marked down significantly
If your store closes earlier, these reductions will happen sooner in the day, especially on Sundays.
Do Waitrose reduce food on Sundays?
Yes — but reductions happen earlier due to shorter opening hours. Many stores begin their final markdowns between 2pm and 3pm on Sundays.
Tips for grabbing the best Waitrose bargains
• Visit around 4pm and again in the early evening
• Check the bakery and deli sections — they reduce heavily
• Ask staff politely, as Waitrose teams are usually happy to tell you the usual timings
• Keep freezer space available for reduced meat
• Don’t forget seasonal clearances after holidays
Other supermarket reduction times
If you like finding yellow sticker bargains, you might also want to check:
• Lidl reduction times
• Marks and Spencer reduction times
• Co-op reduction times
• Morrisons reduction times
• Tesco reduction times
• Asda reduction times
• Sainsbury’s reduction times
• Aldi reduction times
• Iceland reduction times