Waitrose to introduce hotel-style welcome desks in latest stage of online revolution The upmarket retailer, led by managing director Mark Price, plans to install the "concierge" service desks in order to allow customers to make online orders, collect products bought over the internet, and have their flowers and gifts wrapped. Mr Price said at the weekend that Waitrose has moved to "defcon one" on online expansion because of concerns that Ocado, which sells Waitrose products, is about to sign a partnership deal with rival supermarket Wm Morrison. The new welcome desks will be set-up in 100 Waitrose stores this year before being rolled out across the company next year. All the desks will include tablet computers that customers can use to make orders for Waitrose and John Lewis products, the supermarket's sister company. The desks will also offer a dry cleaning service to customers in selected Waitrose stores. Mr Price said: "Waitrose has a long established reputation for offering outstanding service and we know it's one of the reasons our customers love shopping with us. The new welcome desks will allow us to respond to changing shopping habits as our supermarkets are increasingly used as a destination to collect online orders. By offering these new branch hubs, we will enhance the customer experience even further by providing greater convenience and even more personalised services.