John Lewis to buy back Waitrose supermarkets in retail push
2nd March 2026 | Jack Oliver
John Lewis is set to buy back some Waitrose supermarkets as part of a renewed retail push.
The department store chain is looking to buy out landlords after accruing £1.5bn in cash, The Telegraph has reported.
It is unclear how many Waitrose stores that John Lewis wants to buy back. However, a senior source at the retailer said the company chain was taking an “opportunistic” approach.
This comes just days after John Lewis announced that it would be pulling out of its £500m build-to-rent scheme. The group will now look to refocus on its core retail brands with an investment strategy that looks to focus on modernising its store estate, enhancing digital platforms, and improving supply chains.