Is Waitrose On The Boycott List

So, you’ve finally emerged from your bunker (or your sofa, same thing) and you’re asking the existential question of our time: Is Waitrose on the boycott list? Before you panic-spill your oat latte on the floor, let’s untangle this drama. Grab a decaf flat white and a free olive from the deli counter—you’re going to need them.

First up: the backstory. Boycotts are the internet’s favorite pastime, right up there with arguing about marmite. The current buzz surrounds companies with ties to Israel and the occupied territories, part of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement. Think of it as a very tense game of ethical Clue—but instead of Colonel Mustard in the library, it’s “Is my grocery store funding a conflict in the Middle East?”

The Great Waitrose Question

Well, let’s cut the suspense: no, Waitrose is not officially on the main BDS boycott list. As of 2024, the flagship target remains Israeli goods and companies like Sabra, Strauss, and Ahava, not your beloved British supermarket. But—and it’s a juicy “but”—some activists argue that Waitrose does stock products from Israel, like Jaffa oranges or Dead Sea salt scrubs.

So, is Waitrose a villain? Not exactly. It’s more like the guy who shows up to a protest wearing a vegan leather jacket but still eats cheese. Conflicted. The company’s own policy states it “sources from over 70 countries, including Israel,” but it doesn’t actively label specific boycotted goods. That ambiguity drives boycott-trackers absolutely bonkers.

The Real Tea (Which is Probably Chamomile at Waitrose)

Here’s the kicker: Waitrose has been quietly dropping Israeli produce in some locations, but denies it’s political. They claim it’s “seasonal availability” or “supply chain issues.” You know, the same excuse you use when you don’t want to go to your cousin’s wedding. Oh, sorry, my supply chain is down, can’t make the canapés.

A 2023 report from The Guardian noted that Waitrose stopped selling Ahava cosmetics (which are made in an Israeli settlement) after sustained customer pressure. But then they still stock Jaffa oranges in winter. It’s like explaining quantum physics to a golden retriever—utterly maddening.

Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s have also been in the crosshairs. M&S does sell Israeli garments, but they’re not on the official list either. The boycotters are like that one friend who keeps moving the goalposts at mini-golf. Wait, no, you hit the windmill? BOYCOTT!

Why You Should Actually Care (Or Not)

Let’s be real: single-issue boycotts are wildly inconsistent. You can’t boycott Waitrose for selling Jaffa oranges while buying a Galaxy chocolate bar (made by Mars Inc., which has factories in Israel and the West Bank). That’s like being “mostly vegan” except for when there’s bacon on the menu. Which is called “being a normal person at a barbecue.”

Surprising fact: over 70% of BDS campaigns target Israeli goods, but 40% of those consumer complaints are about products that aren’t even sold in the UK anymore. People are writing angry emails about Dead Sea mud that hasn’t been in a shelf since 2019. It’s the ethical equivalent of screaming at a cloud that already rained.

And here’s the real punchline: Waitrose is actually owned by the John Lewis Partnership, a British employee-owned co-operative. So boycotting Waitrose means hurting your own neighbors’ pensions—the same neighbor who lent you a lawnmower and didn’t ask for it back. See the irony? It’s like punching yourself in the face to get back at your thumb.

What You Can Do (Without Losing Your Mind)

If you really want to be a righteous warrior, check the labels yourself. Look for “Made in the West Bank” or “Produce of Israel.” But brace yourself: 90% of “Israeli” avocados you see are actually from Spain. The confusion is a feature, not a bug, designed by the global supply chain to make you weep into your reusable bag.

Or, you know, you could just shop at Waitrose for the good bread and pretend you’re in a Netflix drama about moral dilemmas. The employees don’t care. The cashier is too busy thinking about their lunch break. And the guy next to you is buying £8 cheese and reading a book called “How to Not Be a Hypocrite.” Nobody knows anything.

So, to answer your burning question: Waitrose is not on the official boycott list, but it lives in the grey zone—that terrifying space where ethical shopping goes to die. The best advice? Buy your Jaffa oranges, bake a cake, and worry about the planet instead. At least that’s an effort we can all understand, even if the strawberries are from Chile in December.

And if anyone asks, just shrug and say, “I’m boycotting the concept of certainty.” Then eat your free olive. It’s the only thing that’s unambiguously delicious.