Waitrose owner the John Lewis Partnership has expanded its collaboration with Caffè Nero by opening coffee shops in select stores across the UK. 

Last week, five Waitrose stores welcomed the outlets, offering a blend of Nero Roasting Company’s coffee and the upmarket retailer’s food menu.

The participating locations include Billericay, Godalming, Keynsham, Locks Heath and Stroud. A Caffè Nero outlet also opened in the John Lewis store at White City, West London, last week.

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The collaboration between the John Lewis Partnership and Nero Group began back in 2021, initially focusing on providing free hot drinks to My Waitrose loyalty card holders. Since then, the grocer has dispensed nearly 25m hot drinks. 

Waitrose commercial director Charlotte Di Cello told The Times: “Our stores are hubs for local communities across the country and we know our customers love to have the option of enjoying a coffee, snack or meal after their shop.”

Unlike the self-service machines found in many of the partnership’s stores, these cafés will feature barista-served coffee.

It comes as the supermarket opened its first new convenience shop in six years last week, with the new store in Hampton Hill, south west London, marking its 47th Waitrose-operated convenience shop.