Sainsbury’s has reached a “milestone” in its partnership with Starbucks, by opening its 60th in-store Starbucks café.
The café, located inside Sainsbury’s store in Bicester, Oxfordshire, opened on 3 February, and is the latest part of a wider expansion plan between the two businesses, Sainsbury’s said.
“We’re delighted to have reached another fantastic milestone with Starbucks as we work together to deliver on our plans to transform our eat-in and takeaway food offer,” said Elizabeth Newman, Sainsbury’s director of commercial partnerships.
The Magic Bean Company, a regional licensee of Starbucks, will operate the Bicester site. The café will serve Starbucks’ range of coffees, flavoured hot drinks and snacks, including new Caramelised Macadamia Oat Latte and Honey Hazelnut Oat Latte.
The store will also redistribute surplus or unsold food via the Too Good To Go app, Sainsbury’s said.
Starbucks director of store development Rehan Sardar said: “This is a great opportunity for customers to meet our team and we look forward to welcoming the local community to enjoy our new dining-in and takeaway moments, as we introduce the Starbucks experience across more Sainsbury’s stores nationwide.”
The opening means Sainsbury’s has now reached the store target set in March 2022, as part of a wider shake-up of its dine-in, takeaway and home delivery operations in 250 stores.
Under the plan, Sainsbury’s would shutter 200 of its own in-store cafés, and in their place double its network of Starbucks cafés, as well as expanding a partnership with the Boparan Restaurant Group to open 30 new Restaurant Hub formats in stores.
At the time, CEO Simon Roberts said the three-year plan was to improve the experience and affordability offered to customers. “We know customers like the convenience of being able to have a drink, a snack or a meal while they’re doing their shopping – and that they love the range of food and brands on offer at The Restaurant Hub and Starbucks,” he said.
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