A new convenience store in the heart of Warwick town centre – with a coffee shop and an all-day food-to-go counter – has welcomed its first customers.
Situated in Market Place, it is the 40th store to be launched by Heart of England Co-op, creating 45 jobs.
In addition to a Bewiched coffee shop, the takeaway counter will serve hot and cold food from morning to night – a new concept for Coventry and Warwickshire’s largest independent retailer.
The food-to-go range at the Warwick branch is the biggest ever to be offered at a Heart of England Co-op store. Amongst the choices on offer are salads, hot sandwiches, wraps, cooked breakfasts, pizza, jacket potatoes, pancakes, soft serve ice cream and cookie pie desserts. The variety in flavour is diverse too, from chicken tikka pizzas and Korean BBQ chicken wraps to a traditional English breakfast with black pudding.
Chief operating officer Paul Strong says the new format has been shaped to meet changing consumer demands.
“People are looking for alternative food-to-go solutions giving them both convenience and great flavour, as well as healthier options, more variety and substance.It’s no longer about just grabbing a sandwich at lunchtime. People may be coming in at different times of the day for breakfast, a quick lunch, a coffee and snack, or something more indulgent in the afternoon.
“This is a high-footfall town-centre store, serving local shoppers, workers, visitors and tourists, so the customer missions are wider than in a traditional convenience store.”
Along with a selection of fresh and frozen produce and essential household items, other features include an in-store bakery, a PayPoint and lottery counter and a free cash machine.
Andy Chambers, manager of the new store, which was previously an Old Factory shop unit, had the honour of cutting the ribbon to officially open the premises on August 21.
The first 250 customers to come through the doors were handed free goodie bags. Other shoppers were given tasting sessions outside, with entertainment provided by enchanting stilt walkers, and Heart of England Co-op’s cheery mascots ‘Cooper the Bear’ and ‘Coffee Cups’.
To mark the unveiling, £200 worth of goods were donated to Warwick Food Bank. During the run-up to launch day, the store also hosted free breakfast and lunch sessions for businesses in the area.
Heart of England Co-op has opened several coffee shops in partnership with the Bewiched chain in recent years, including a drive-thru at Glenvale Park, Northamptonshire and another in-store café in Attleborough.
Along with its distinctive signature coffee, the Warwick Bewiched café serves milkshakes, coolers, iced coffee, tea and matcha, cake, pastries and other sweet treats. It also offers free wi-fi and power outlets and is dog-friendly.
The convenience store is open between 7am and 9pm Monday to Saturday and 9am and 6pm on Sundays. The Bewiched opening hours are 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm on Saturdays and 9am to 5pm on Sundays.