Waitrose will bring back free coffee for loyalty card members from next month after it was scrapped during pandemic in June 2020

• Waitrose to reintroduce free coffee offer for loyalty card members next month
• It reported a 5 per cent drop in like-for-like sales to £3.6 billion in September
• Free hot drinks perk for MyWaitrose cardholders was scrapped in June 2020 
• Caffe Nero will supply beans and customers will be able to claim coffee and tea 

Waitrose is reintroducing its free coffee offer for loyalty card members next month after a two-year hiatus amid the cost-of-living crisis and declining sales for the high-end supermarket.

Waitrose reported a 5 per cent drop in like-for-like sales to £3.6 billion in September, with retail analysts highlighting the recent rise in the popularity of cheaper supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl as spiraling costs hit consumers.

The free hot drinks perk for MyWaitrose cardholders was scrapped during the pandemic in June 2020, but the supermarket has now announced the deal will return from November 7.

Waitrose is reintroducing its free coffee offer for loyalty card members next month after a two-year hiatus

Shoppers will be able to claim a free Americano, latte, cappuccino or tea once a day when they make a purchase.

Waitrose has teamed up with Caffe Nero, which will supply the coffee beans.

A trial scheme took place earlier this year and free coffee will be reintroduced at all 331 stores.

It comes after Waitrose scrapped its offer of a free newspaper with a £10 spend for members in February, replacing the freebie with ‘more personalised offers’. 

The new partnership between the retail giant and Caffe Nero is among the biggest between a supermarket and coffee shop brand

The free coffee offer was first brought in for all cardholders in 2013, even those who had not bought anything in the store. 

This changed in 2017, when Waitrose changed the policy meaning shoppers would need to buy something before claiming their free hot drink.

The supermarket later began to ask customers to bring reusable cups.

There will be no minimum spend needed to claim the deal, and non-myWaitrose members will also be able to purchase drinks – with tea from £2.25 and coffees from £2.35.

Charlotte Di Cello, Commercial Director for Waitrose explained: ‘Our customers loved the myWaitrose free coffee offer, so we’re really excited to bring it back, with premium beans from The Nero Roasting Company.

The free coffee offer was first brought in for all cardholders in 2013, even those who had not bought anything in the store

‘The partnership is an ideal fit, helping customers enjoy quality coffee both in store or at home – with even more benefits in the pipeline.’

The new partnership between the retail giant and Caffe Nero is among the biggest between a supermarket and coffee shop brand. 

Both myWaitrose members and Caffè Nero App users will be able to receive benefits in branches of each chain.

They have promised further announcements on benefits for customers, which will be apply at Waitrose branches and more than 650 Caffè Nero stores across the UK. 

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