The grocer said it would begin expanding online delivery fulfilment to a further 24 “strategically placed” stores across the UK this week, as it prepares for life after its agreement with current online delivery partner Ocado.

The retailer said the first of the 24 new stores to receive a Waitrose.com service would be in Hailsham “over the coming months”.

Once this latest round of upgrades is completed, Waitrose will be able to fulfil online grocery deliveries from more than 170 of its stores across the UK.