Supermarket giant slammed for only giving one free butter portion with toasted teacakes and scones

Denise Bakewell at home with some teacakes. Ref shs 31 18TI 9100. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Mum-of-five Denise Bakewell said she was left outraged when she visited a Devon Waitrose store and ordered a toasted teacake, but was only given one tiny butter portion.

Denise, from Newton Poppleford, said that an ‘embarrassed’ member of staff told her it was now store policy to only give out one free portion, instead of two, and if she wanted more then she would have to pay.

The 62-year-old then decided to pay her local Sidmouth branch a visit and was told it also had the same policy.

Denise said: “We couldn’t believe it.

“What is happening to Waitrose? When you purchase a toasted teacake in their cafes now, you are only allowed one small butter.

“If you require more you have to pay extra.

“We were given one tiny butter that had melted – there was hardly anything there.

“When I spoke to staff at the Sidmouth branch they said it was now their policy and had received complaints.”

Denise said the staff were getting so embarrassed when people mentioned it.

She claimed that staff had told her that they had appealed to management to change the policy, but had not got anywhere with it.

She added: “Surely a big company such as Waitrose does not need to penny pinch and rob customers like this.

“I think it is a ridiculous situation.

“Some people might think it is petty but when you buy something you want to enjoy it.

“It is not as if they are a tiny, struggling cafe – they are a big company.

“I could understand if they made the portions bigger but they are very silly, little things.

“It is the same policy with scones too, I was told.”

After the Herald contacted Waitrose, the company vowed to change its policy back.

A Waitrose spokesperson said: “We’re sorry the customer felt disappointed and will be changing this back soon.”