Starbucks will reopen 150 coffee shops for drive-thru and takeaway orders from Thursday to become latest national chain to exit lockdown
- Starbucks will open around 15% of UK stories in its first phase of reopening plans
- The chain stores reopening will be available for takeaway and drive-thru orders
- Starbucks closed its UK sites in March after the country went into lockdown
Starbucks is to reopen around 150 stores across the UK from Thursday.
The global coffee chain said it will open around 15% of its UK stores in the first phase of its reopening plans, which are predominantly focused on drive-thru stores.
It said it will also reopen a ‘handful of takeaway-only stores’ as it continues with preparations to allow all of its UK stores to be reopened.
Starbucks said it will open around 15% of its UK stores as takeaways and drive-thrus in the first phase of its reopening plan. Pictured, Starbucks employees working on the drive-thru in California, as the global coffee chain have already opened some US sites
Starbucks closed all of its UK sites in March after the Government-mandated lockdown was introduced.
The company said it has been ‘learning, testing and refining our operational standards every day’ behind closed doors.
It said the reopening plan – which will start with stores broadly spread across the UK – will focus on ensuring the health and wellbeing of its employees and customers.
The reopening comes after fast food retailers, such as Burger King and KFC, have reopened drive-thru sites.
Meanwhile, some cafe chain rivals such as Pret a Manger have reopened UK sites for takeaway customers.
Starbucks has already reopened some of its sites in other regions, including the US and China.
Starbucks said the reopening plan – which will start with stores broadly spread across the UK – will focus on ensuring the health and wellbeing of its employees and customers
It said it has ‘taken learnings’ from changes to its operations in China – where 90% of sites are now open – and the US in consideration of its UK sites.
New safety measures at UK sites will include regular hand-washing for at least 20 seconds, two metre social distancing, screens at payment areas and the use of contactless payment only.
The reopening menu will include Starbucks’ core range of drinks and a limited food range, it said.
Employees have been paid during the closure and the chain said it ‘will not be accepting any opt-in government support’ during the coronavirus crisis.
WHICH FOOD CHAINS ARE REOPENING?
Costa: 33 stores have already reopened for business across Britain for drive-thru and takeaways.
Pret a Manger: It reopened 71 more cafes for takeaway and delivery on Monday May 11 after a successful trial.
KFC: It reopened dozens more drive-thru services. From last week it began running the drive-thru lanes at 55 restaurants, that are already open for delivery.
Greggs: It has opened stores in Newcastle as part of its trial period.
Burger King: Drive-thrus are open in Havant, Hampshire, Dundee, Aberdeen, Reading, Hillington (Norfolk), Southampton, Merto, (London) Springfield Quay (London).
Wagamama: The popular restaurant offering Japanese and Asian food reopened its kitchens to deliver food to customers’ homes from last Thursday in Peckham and Hackney.
Nandos: It has opened six restaurants with four in London and two in Manchester – for delivery only.
Five Guys: It reopened 16 stores at the end of April for business and a further 16 on May 5. This brings the total to 45 out of 104 restaurants that will be open.
TGI Fridays: It launched Click & Collect on May 6 as part of a controlled trial across 24 of its UK restaurants.
McDonald’s: Fifteen stores will reopen from May 13, with three based in Luton. They may also open more of their drive-thru sites.
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