waitrose staff coffee

Waitrose has doubled the minimum spend for its free newspaper offer just days after it began trialling a purchase requirement for its free hot drinks.

The retailer has told myWaitrose cardholders that from 1 November they will need to spend £10 instead of £5 to be entitled to a free selected weekday newspaper.

The weekday policy corresponds with the existing minimum spend rule on Saturdays and Sundays.

“Like any business, we regularly review promotions to ensure we balance providing value for our customers with a return on our investment,” a Waitrose spokesman said.

“We are still the only supermarket where if you buy a selected newspaper you will receive money off the rest of your shopping.”

Earlier this week, the supermarket confirmed that it had begun trialling a purchase requirement for its free tea and coffee offer to find out how it was being used by myWaitrose cardholders.

Two branches began the trial at the end of September, with seven more joining last week.

A Waitrose spokesman said it had not been decided how long the trial would last and there were no plans to roll it out to any more branches.

Both changes have prompted negative comments from myWaitrose cardholders on Twitter.