Waitrose has ended its advertising tie-up with cook and TV personality Delia Smith but said it will continue to work with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal.

The upmarket UK retailer signed a three-year deal with the two chefs in 2010, marking the supermarket’s first foray into working with celebrities.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

However, in a statement today (8 January), Waitrose said it will be “bidding a fond farewell” to 71-year-old Smith when her contract expires in February. The retailer said it will continue to use Fat Duck chef Blumenthal in adverts and to develop new recipes and products to “push the boundaries of supermarket innovation”.

Waitrose said the decision was by “mutual agreement” and that Smith has “other major projects and commitments” coming up this year.

“It has been such a fantastic experience working together and we have been really appreciative of the work Delia has done with Waitrose,” said Waitrose marketing director Rupert Thomas. “We remain on very good terms and will be continuing to work closely with her until the end of February.”

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact