The upmarket grocer will relaunch its fish and meat counter ranges on Waitrose.com at the beginning of next year and has committed to the long-term future of counters in its stores. 

Waitrose said that, following the Sainsbury’s closures announced last week, it wanted to “reassure” its suppliers and customers about its own fresh food counters.   

Sainsbury’s warned last week that 3,500 jobs would go across the group amid plans to shutter all of its meat, fish and deli counters, as well as 420 standalone Argos stores.