Waitrose major change to free coffee could see £3 penalty
It comes as earlier this year, MyWaitrose customers were able to start claiming a free coffee (as long as they had a reusable cup) without buying anything.
This was introduced following a shake-up to the loyalty scheme, which saw Waitrose ditch the free newspaper initiative.
But Waitrose has now installed this new 'circular' system in nine of its UK stores last week.
The trial was first spotted in the Newark store by founder of the Meals Collective, Olly Pinder, The Grocer reports.
Advertised in shops as 'Borrow a Free Cup', the new loyalty scheme trial works by customers accessing a cup from a dispenser by tapping their card.
Once released, they can fill the cup with a hot drink of their choice, just as they normally would.
However, MyWaitrose members will then have seven days to return the cup to a designated point in store or face a £3 charge, as explained by The Grocer.
It's thought the trial will run for the next few months.
A Waitrose spokesperson told Newsquest: 'We're currently conducting a reusable cup trial in nine of our branches – it kicked off this week and is available for MyWaitrose members to use when redeeming their free coffee, or for our café customers to use if purchasing one.'
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Towards the end of last month, Waitrose launched its own-label pistachio chocolate bar following the recent viral Dubai chocolate craze - the No.1 White Chocolate & Pistachio Nuts with Sea Salt bar.
The supermarket has added pistachio paste to the white chocolate, making it pistachio green in colour.
Additionally, the bar is also laced with chopped pistachios for a more 'authentic' pistachio flavour and 'delicious' crunch, with no katif pastry in sight.
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