Waitrose store front

Waitrose store front

“My favourite grocer in the world,” said one (international) judge of this upmarket retailer, which has defied the recession to deliver “outstanding growth” thanks to the launch of “its initially mocked but now proven Essentials range” and “strong value communication”, an aggressive expansion programme, and the enhancement of its “impressive” “upscale private label offer” with 5,000 new or improved products launched in 2012 alone. 

See the complete list of the World’s 50 Best Grocers.