Costa Coffee Trials New Look Store In Response To Covid

By: Costa Coffee | 1 Shares 652 Reads

August 31, 2020 // Franchising.com // As the high-street reawakens to a new ‘normal’ the nation’s favourite coffee shop*, Costa Coffee, has re-imagined the conceptual design and digital customer journey of one of its flagship stores following the impact of COVID 19.

New and returning customers visiting the Costa Coffee store on Argyll St, London will be instantly welcomed by a refreshed look and feel, from bespoke décor, right through to a contemporary counter and an enhanced digital offering.

All features of the renovated store are geared to delivering a gold-standard level of service and giving customers the choice as to how they get their favourite handcrafted coffee in the ‘new world’.

A stand-out addition to the store is the newly designed street-facing counter, that will deliver a quick and efficient service for customers who are not quite ready to enter an inside space out-of-the-home. The counter spans the breadth of the inner store and curves to an outward opening, next to an outside ordering screen, allowing for streamlined customer use.

Customers looking for a speedy pick up are now able to collect pre-ordered drinks by using Costa Coffee’s mobile ordering service via the Costa Coffee club app. Perfect for busy, on-to-go coffee lovers who need to grab their favourite handcrafted drink from the new street-facing counter without having to queue or go inside. The store has also been equipped to support a delivery service enabling customers to get their favourite drink brought to them if they are unable to get to store.

For those looking to take some time out to meet a friend or sit and eat-in, the inside of the store has been designed to maximise personal space while maintaining a relaxing and welcoming environment for those wishing to unwind.

Customers visiting the store also see it has been equipped with protective equipment and hand sanitiser stations. Both inside and outside, floor signs have been carefully placed to adhere to social distancing guidelines and high-quality Perspex screens have been installed at all counters.

Connie Emerson, Global Retail Director, said: “The Argyll Street store is a unique space situated within an old building just off Oxford Street. It was the perfect location to trial a new store design as we continue to explore a post COVID-19 space.

“Our customers have shared that they’re looking for safe and comfortable space to relax and enjoy a bit of ‘normal’. But for those that are not quite ready to sit inside, an all-new solution has been designed so they can still get their favourite handcrafted Costa Coffee without entering the store - It’s really about offering our customers different choices of experience.

“We have re-imagined a new store focus; one where visitors to the store can meet friends and take time out in our warm and relaxing seating areas, and give those looking to just grab a coffee on the go a quick and easy limited contact service through a re-designed digital-only ordering service.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming new and returning customers to our Argyll St store. We hope they’ll love it as much as we do.”

For more information on how Costa Coffee is keeping team members and customers safe, please visit the Costa Coffee website.

*Allegra Strategies, 2019

About Costa Coffee

Founded in London by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971, Costa Coffee operates in 31 international markets, with over 2,700+ coffee shops in the UK&I and 1,200+ globally. We are the fastest growing coffee shop business in the UK&I and are proud to be the nation’s favourite coffee shop, having been awarded “Best Branded Coffee Shop Chain in the UK and Ireland" by Allegra Strategies for ten consecutive years (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019).

Making a positive contribution to the communities we are part of its extremely important to us, both here in the UK and across the world. That’s why we established The Costa Foundation, a registered charity with the aim of improving the life chances of children in coffee growing communities by helping them access a safe, quality education. So far, the Costa Foundation has funded over 80 school projects and changed the lives of more than 75,000 children. We also have a UK-wide Community Programme, which enables our teams to volunteer their time to good causes locally and to invite community groups to make use of our welcoming space in store.

In 2011, Costa Coffee purchased Coffee Nation, which is now Costa Express. Today, Costa Express operates in nine international markets, with over 9,000+ coffee bars in the UK and more than 1,000+ globally. Proudly serving the same famous Mocha Italia blend found in stores, combined with fresh milk to create a delicious and warming cup of coffee on the go.

SOURCE Costa Coffee

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