Waitrose 20 sign

Waitrose wants shoppers to sing on its Christmas advert

Waitrose has announced it will be asking customers and staff to record the soundtrack for its 2014 Christmas television advert.

After using high-profile singers in previous years, the supermarket will now focus on its shoppers with its ‘Donate Your Voice’ festive advertising initiative, which launches this week. Those involved will be singing Dolly Parton’s ‘Try’, which has been selected as the soundtrack for the Christmas advert.

From 18-28 October, Members of the public can upload their recording of the song to the supermarket’s ‘Donate Your Voice’ website. Participants can also upload films of them singing, clips of which will be used in the television advert and on social media. All submissions will be mixed together into one large “choir” by Mercury Prize-nominated music producer David Kosten.

The final song will also be released for sale. All profits from the single will be used to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, Age UK and The Trussell Trust.

“Not only will we be able to create a totally unique soundtrack which has never been produced for advertising in this way before, but the public will be raising much needed funds for three fantastic causes,” said Waitrose marketing director Rupert Thomas.

The supermarket is also contacting choir groups across the UK and some more famous voices to get them involved in the recording.