Waitrose has today become the new publisher of Britain's best-selling restaurant guide, The Good Food Guide.
The retailer intends to continue to operate the 63-year-old publication as an independent and authoritative guide to eating out in the UK. The purchase includes the website in addition to the print copy.
The purchase of The Good Food Guide builds on Waitrose's growing presence as a food expert across a number of communications channels. These include the weekly newspaper Waitrose Weekend, the monthly magazine Waitrose Kitchen, and Waitrose TV, which offers cookery and gardening advice via an online portal on Waitrose.com.
Rupert Thomas, Waitrose Marketing Director, said: 'We aim to be the go to shop for food lovers, and becoming the publisher of this well-loved guide will continue to develop our brand as an authority on good food.
'The Good Food Guide has a loyal following among our customers and we will continue to operate it as an independent authority on eating out within the UK.'
Consultant Editor of The Good Food Guide, Elizabeth Carter, said: 'The Good Food Guide will continue to maintain its reputation as the country's foremost independent restaurant guide. We will be offering the same high calibre, knowledgeable restaurant reviews which have helped the Guide become the respected publication it is today. Joining the Waitrose family marks a new chapter in its prestigious history.'
Copies of The Good Food Guide 2014 will be in Waitrose shops in the autumn and will continue to be distributed to all normal outlets.