Premium coffee house the Nero Group has strengthened its partnership with Waitrose and unveiled a new collaboration with John Lewis in a significant expansion of its retail presence.  

As part of the enhanced partnership, Nero will launch a new café concept in five Waitrose stores, offering customers quality food from Waitrose and coffee roasted by the Nero Roasting Company. 

The new cafes will open at Waitrose in Billericay, Godalming, Keynsham, Locks Heath and Stroud.  

The collaboration between the two brands began in 2021 and has evolved to include the development of a full sit-in café experience.  

Waitrose commercial director Charlotte Di Cello said: “We’re excited to build on our successful partnership with the Nero Group with the launch of our new cafés. The initial tranche of five cafés will offer the best of Waitrose food together with coffee from the Nero Roasting Company, in a welcoming environment, served by our brilliant Waitrose Partners.”  

Nero is also opening new a café within a John Lewis store at White City in London. 

The new 1,500ft² Caffè Nero outlet in John Lewis will seat 72 guests and serve a range of premium speciality coffees and deli food items.  

Caffè Nero CEO UK Will Stratton-Morris said: “We have always seen the potential to deepen that relationship further and the launch of the new cafés in Waitrose is a key step in that process, as is widening the scope of our relationship with our first Caffè Nero within a John Lewis store. I’m excited that customers can enjoy the hospitality and premium coffee of a Caffè Nero within the unique shopping experience of John Lewis. It’s a perfect pairing and there is still so much scope for our partnership to continue to grow.” 

In November 2024, Waitrose opened a convenience store in Hampton Hill, southwest London – its first new shop in six years.