Waitrose ended its 12-year partnership with Heston Blumenthal in early 2023 to shift its product development strategy toward in-house,, chef-led innovation rather than relying on a celebrity chef. The decision was influenced by the need for a new direction and reports of the partnership concluding after the chef was perceived as “unpredictable” and “distant”.
After 12 years, Waitrose is ending its partnership with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal. The grocer is taking its “product development in a new direction” – and it's turning to its own in-house chefs to deliver that goal.
After his wife Melanie called for help, Heston was sectioned and hospitalised, and he finally received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder – something he describes as 'the best thing that could have ever happened'.
In 2023, Waitrose ended the contract with Blumenthal, seeking to focus on its in-house range. A source from Waitrose described Blumenthal as "unpredictable".
Chef Heston Blumenthal has shut his central London restaurant after it was hit by an outbreak of a vomiting virus. A total of 24 diners and 21 members of staff were taken ill at the two Michelin-starred Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental hotel on Hyde Park due to the norovirus.
Chef Heston Blumenthal ‘pleased’ 12-year partnership with Waitrose ended as he plans new food line
Where does Heston Blumenthal live now?
Heston Blumenthal's major upheaval with new life in France amid health battle: Heston Blumenthal has been living in France since 2018, moving there with his then partner. See inside the My Life with Bipolar star's life abroad as well as how the celebrity chef lives with his bipolar disorder #Lifestyle.
The late Joël Robuchon holds the record for the most Michelin stars ever awarded to a chef, with 32 stars to his name. He revolutionized fine dining with dishes that emphasized quality ingredients and impeccable technique.
In November 2023, he was sectioned in France following a week-long manic episode and given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. He spent 20 days on a psychiatric ward and a further 40 days at a clinic. Blumenthal describes the ward as “a bit like a prison”.
How many Michelin stars does Heston Blumenthal have?
Born in London, Heston rose to fame through his work in his first restaurant, the now legendary The Fat Duck, in Bray, Berkshire. Opened in 1995, it earned its first Michelin star in 1999 and has retained three since 2004.
The poshest supermarket in the UK is generally considered to be Waitrose, known for premium products, quality, and organic options, followed closely by Marks & Spencer (M&S) for its food halls and prepared meals, while luxury food halls like Fortnum & Mason and Harrods offer an even higher-end, but less typical, grocery experience, with regional favorite Booths in the North also considered very high-end.
Ocado and Waitrose to split after 19 year partnership. The long-standing commercial arrangement between Waitrose and Ocado will come to an end in September 2020, after 19 years of partnership.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, announced in March 2024 that she was diagnosed with cancer after undergoing abdominal surgery in January of that year; tests revealed the presence of cancer, leading her to begin preventative chemotherapy, which she completed in the summer of 2024, and she has since been focusing on recovery and gradually returning to public duties, though the specific type and stage of cancer remain private.
Kate and Prince William eat breakfast separately on Christmas Day due to a long-standing royal tradition where the men have a hearty breakfast downstairs while the women eat lighter meals in their rooms to allow more time for hair and makeup before the heavily photographed church service, a custom revealed by former royal chef Darren McGrady, though they dine together for other meals.
