Food provider Compass Instore has secured a five-year multi-million pound partnership with Homebase to introduce coffee shops into 30 of its stores across the UK.
The first coffee shop opened in the new Worcester store earlier in the month and serves hot breakfasts, sandwiches, cakes and pastries all day.

The introduction of the coffee shops into Homebase is part of a plan to provide customers with a family friendly, home-from-home environment where they can relax while taking a break from shopping.

In stores which are limited on space Instore is working on developing smaller pod cafe formats.

Business director for Instore, Andy Rees, said: "We're delighted to have won this new contract and we are immensely excited about building on our relationship with Homebase to inspire the nation's homemakers everywhere.

"With our experience in delivering food for retail partners, there's a lot we can bring to create great customer experience for Homebase customers, working together to satisfy appetites for home improvements and tasty eats at the same time."

Retail and distribution director at Homebase, Graham Heald, added: "We are extremely pleased to announce that we have partnered with Compass Instore.

"At the heart of our decision was their understanding of our future plans, design ideas that will help build upon these, operational expertise and specialist knowledge of consumers' favourite food and drink."

At the end of April the retailer posted a like-for-like sales increase of 6% on the previous year.

Introducing coffee shops into stores is one way Homebase is trying to attract customers.

The DIY superstore has also launched a new video-centred website and signed a three-year deal with Sky IQ to better understand the shopping habits of its customers.