Own-label showcase: Waitrose No1 premium range

No1 Wood-fired Mushroom & Truffle Sourdough Pizza

Rsp: £6

Waitrose says: “A crisp, hand-stretched base with 48-hour fermented sourdough, baked in a wood-fired oven with a salsa truffina béchamel sauce, truffle-infused portobello and chestnut mushrooms, creamy mascarpone and fresh parsley.” 

No1 Free Range 12 Chipolatas

Rsp: £3.49/375g

Waitrose says: “Juicy, perfectly seasoned sausages, made with succulent, well-flavoured pork from pigs sired by pedigree Hampshire boars.”

No1 Wheat & Rye Sourdough Sliced Bread

Rsp: £2/500g

Waitrose says: “Hand-crafted with a 10-year-old levain starter dough and light and dark Shipton Mill rye flours, slowly fermented for a deep sourdough flavour.”

No1 Venison Loin Steak with Blackberry Sauce

Rsp: £7.99/180g

Waitrose says: “Naturally lean, tender meat with elderberry and thyme butter to melt on top, and a sauce made with whole blackberries and red wine.”

No1 Contemporary Chocolate Edition and No1 Dark Chocolate

Rsp: £8/155g and 75p/30g

Waitrose says: “A sophisticated collection of irresistible pralines, truffle-filled chocolates, velvety ganaches and fleur de sel caramels from an award-winning modern chocolatier.”

No1 Fig, Plum & Cranberry Wheat Biscuits

Rsp: tbc

Waitrose says: “Irresistibly crisp biscuits with malty notes and the sweetness of fruit, made by a Dorset bakery founded in 1916. Delicious with mature cheddar.”

No1 Passionfruit Curd and No1 Spiced Quince & Pear Relish

Rsp: tbc

Waitrose says: Relish: “Fruity with a touch of sharpness, made with ripe juicy fruit and spiced vinegar.” Curd: “Rich and velvety with just the right amount of sharpness, made with free-range eggs and creamy butter.”

No1 Coffee Beans Congo, North Kivu

Rsp: tbc

Waitrose says: “Notes: delicate, stewed rhubarb, peach tea. Speciality Coffee Association score: 86.”

Expert verdict

Commentary is from Creative Coup director Anton Vann. 

What do you think of the packaging?

The packaging is minimalist and feels sophisticated yet understated. To elevate the range and cue premium, the design opts for gold foil, linking in nicely with gold foil replacement of trays in some products, part of Waitrose’s drive towards recyclable packaging.

There is a prominent white line dividing the packs in two (perhaps borrowing from the former Waitrose & Partners logo rebrand) that works on some products, but not so well on others.

This design relies on open space to be able to bring across the minimalist, stripped-back contemporary feel. So where the pack size is really small, such as on the Spiced Quince and Pear Relish, the premium feel is somewhat lost, a common problem with such a variety of pack sizes.

The coffee beans packs stand out from the range and feel somewhat disconnected. This is down to the heritage shot of the farmer rather than the product itself being the hero on pack, which Waitrose has used across the other SKUs.

Overall, the new packaging is fresh, modern and contemporary rather than super premium, with some SKUs working better than others.

What does this revamp tell us about what’s happening in premium own label?

Increasing numbers of shoppers have indicated that they become loyal to a store based on its own-label brands. As a result, demand for premium and organic offerings are increasing. Seeing as premium products drive higher revenue and offer even better margins compared to the already great margins of everyday items, it makes sense for a retailer to cater to this need.

We’ll see more and more investment by retailers in their premium ranges in future.

What do you think this range tells us about the wider Waitrose business?

This range refresh forms part of the & Partners rebrand that started in 2018, and it’s important to note that the use of the new name across the  packaging continues to push what Waitrose and John Lewis think sets them apart from the competition: their staff.

But, with the & Partners message both inward and outward focused, whether the consumer cares one way or another remains to be seen.

What do you think about the No1 range overall?

On a busy supermarket shelf, this stripped-back design is actually soothing on the eye. The range stands out by virtue of the fact that it’s not shouting so loud. Because the branding isn’t fighting hard for attention, it allows the quality of the product to speak for itself.

 

Work in own-label?

The Grocer Own-Label Accreditation Scheme allows UK retailers to gain independent consumer approval of their products and a robust, objective analysis of their quality and purchase intent.

The accreditation scheme is unique and offers continuous review by consumers for consumers. It also delivers quick results to optimise sales during key seasons as well as promote trial of new and exciting lines. Find out more here.