Waitrose and John Lewis are opening Caffè Nero in-store cafes

The in-shop cafés are understood to have opened in five Waitrose stores and one John Lewis store so far, according to The Times.

The Waitrose in-shop openings are said to include Billericay, Godalming, Keynsham, Locks Heath and Stroud while one outlet also opened in John Lewis in Westfield, White City, last week.

The in-shop cafés offer coffees from Nero Roasting Company alongside the Waitrose food menu and will operate alongside the existing partnership between Nero Group and Waitrose.

Waitrose currently offers free Nero Group hot drinks to its My Waitrose loyalty card members and has done since the launch of the partnership in 2021.

The free hot drinks machines are available in 320 Waitrose stores currently and since the start of the partnership almost 25 million hot drinks have been claimed.

John Lewis Partnership told the newspaper that the launch of outlets within its stores is a “natural extension of the partnership” and drinks will be served by baristas, going the extra mile than the free coffee machines.

Waitrose commercial director Charlotte Di Cello said: “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.”

Caffè Nero UK chief executive Will Stratton-Morris called the partnership a “perfect pairing” added: “There is still so much scope for our partnership to continue to grow.”