Local farmer, David Cowley, supplies potatoes to Waitrose’s branches in Guernsey
Story W
The Waitrose
aitrose has now been in business in the Channel
Islands for three years and employs nearly 800 Partners, as all Waitrose employees are known, across its five branches in Guernsey and Jersey.
By DUNCAN LANGSTON,
Director of Waitrose in the Channel Islands
We have had a very successful three years, sustaining growth across the islands while introducing the John Lewis Partnership model – giving all our partners a vested interest in the growth of the company.
Every Partner shares the responsibilities and rewards in the running of the business. The Channel Island business is a testament to the longstanding beliefs and values that have shaped our company into the great co- owned business it is today.
Here we tell the Waitrose story through four of our Partners whose varying local roles encompass activities we value strongly: local sourcing, corporate social responsibility, supporting education and learning and development.
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and every day I am dealing with a vast array of different producers.’
Gary Grace is a buying adviser of fresh produce working across Guernsey and Jersey, where he supports all the branches and island producers. With more than 27 years’ experience working in retail and buying produce for Waitrose in the UK, he works closely with local producers of poultry, fish, dairy and vegetables to help grow their businesses.
‘I started in the grocery trade in 1976 on the shop floor filling shelves’, said Gary. ‘After several months l was taken on as a trainee butcher and stayed within this area for a number of years before going on to general management in stores. I moved to the Channel Islands in 2012. My job is hands on
With his role based around fresh food, he says there is no ‘normal’ working day – the focus changes day-to- day and week-to-week. ‘I normally start around 7am; as the fresh food farmers and suppliers are normally
up early. I get emails or calls very early in the day and late at night and these can vary from field, crop or system issues. Five minutes on the phone can save them a lot of work later on, so it’s time well spent.
With over 60 new lines added to the ever growing range of local products in the last 12 months sourced locally, visiting branches and talking to the fruit and vegetable specialists is a key part of Gary’s role. ‘They are a great source of knowledge. Keeping them up- to-date on what is happening with crops helps them with ordering and understanding what is available within the local market. We have
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