WASHINGTON, Sunderland, UK – Costa Coffee celebrates the opening of its brand-new Drive-Thru store at The Peel Centre in Washington, Sunderland. The opening also marks a major milestone, with it being the company’s 300th Drive-Thru in Great Britain. To mark the moment, Costa Coffee is celebrating with some exciting activities and giveaways for coffee lovers.
Local Member of Parliament for Washington and Sunderland West, Sharon Hodgson MP, joined the celebrations and officially opened the new store, which has created 15 new jobs for the local community. The new store is one of over 100 that Costa Coffee and its franchise partners plan to open throughout 2022, as it continues to invest in stores across the country.
Featuring a Drive-Thru Lane for those on the move, the store is one of the first to boast a new uplifting in-store design that Costa Coffee is rolling out across the country. It offers a bright, warm, and contemporary environment where customers can enjoy their favourite handcrafted drinks in the comfort of modern furniture. There’s even a new ‘Rinse & Refill’ station so visitors can top up water bottles and clean out reusable cups for free!
Not only that, but a range of innovative new digital features are also on show to provide a seamless customer experience. Digital menu boards make browsing the menu easier than ever and the Click & Collect service on the Costa Club app means people can order in advance and collect on-the-go.
The Costa Club app also gives access to Costa Coffee’s loyalty programme, which rewards members with a free handcrafted drink after eight purchases. The scheme also encourages customers to choose to reuse by offering an extra ‘green bean’ with every purchase of a handcrafted drink in a reusable cup. With only four purchases needed for a free drink, it is both a nice boost for customers and helps to reduce the number of takeaway cups used.
Coffee fans in Washington looking for a bite to eat will be able to choose from a range of delicious food available every day. With tempting options at breakfast, lunch and from the sweet counter, there’s something for everyone.
Commenting on the opening, Costa Coffee Regional Operations Director for the Scotland & North of England, Audrey Gillespie, said: “We are thrilled to be celebrating the opening of our new store here in Washington. Having the landmark 300th Drive -Thru in our Region is a proud moment for us all, and our incredible team members are excited to celebrate this moment with the community over a perfectly crafted Costa coffee and one of our classic traybakes”.
Sharon Hodgson MP, Member of Parliament for Washington and Sunderland West, added: “I am delighted that Costa Coffee has opened its 300th Drive-Thru in Washington, investing in our community and creating new jobs for local residents. Not only that, I’m pleased to hear that they will be taking the time to support local charities to further benefit our area.”
The store team will also be focused on important causes alongside excellent service. To coincide with the opening, the team has secured an initial £500 donation for local charity, Wearside Women in Need, from Costa Coffee’s Community Grants scheme. They will also be recycling takeaway cups and used coffee grounds, and will be launching on the Too Good To Go app to provide great value food at a discount whilst preventing food from going to waste at the end of the day.
