Compass Instore wins five-year Homebase café deal
Compass Group's Instore business has won a new five-year deal with DIY and gardening retailer Homebase to introduce coffee shops in up to 30 stores.
The multimillion-pound deal kicks off this month with the opening of the first café in Homebase Worcester.
The caterer's Instore brand operates restaurant and café services in retail spaces.
Andy Rees, business director for Instore, said: "With our experience in delivering great food for retail partners, there's a lot we can bring to create a great customer experience for Homebase customers, working together to satisfy appetites for home improvements and tasty eats at the same time."
The new Homebase coffee shops are part of a plan to offer customers a family friendly, home-from-home environment where they can relax and discuss their home improvement plans.
Open all day, the coffee shop offer will include hot breakfast sandwiches, cakes and pastries, and fresh sandwiches and paninis.
Instore is investing in developing modern, colourful spaces with paint-dipped furniture and oversized soft chairs, located beside a consultation area offering customers expert home decoration advice. In stores that are tight for space, the team are also developing smaller pod café formats.
Graham Heald, retail & distribution director at Homebase, added: "We are extremely pleased to announce that we have partnered with Compass Instore. At the heart of our decision was their understanding of our future plans, design ideas that will help build upon these, operational expertise and specialist knowledge of consumers' favourite food and drink."
