Costa Coffee and Sainsbury’s have celebrated a major milestone in their partnership with the opening of Costa Coffee’s 50th store in a Sainsbury’s supermarket.
Located at Sainsbury’s Leicester North Superstore, the new store welcomed its first customers on 30th April 2026, marking a significant step in the continued rollout of Costa Coffee stores inside Sainsbury’s supermarkets nationwide.
This milestone reflects the strength of the partnership and its positive impact across the UK, having created more than 400 jobs in local communities and representing a combined investment of nearly £16 million. To celebrate the opening, the store team surprised 50 customers with a free reusable cup.
Customers visiting the new Leicester North store can enjoy Costa Coffee’s much-loved drinks range, alongside a selection of food, including a freshly baked range of pastries - ideal for space to relax after their shop or something to take on the go. The new store has also created eight jobs, with a team of baristas ready to serve the local community.
Sainsbury’s first started working with third party café providers 25 years ago and more recently has expanded these collaborations to open more sites across its estate, with additional partners. There are now over 150 cafés in Sainsbury’s supermarkets operated by experienced external providers.
This opening builds on the successful collaboration Sainsbury’s and Costa launched in 2024, bringing together two of the UK’s most recognised brands to deliver a convenient, high-quality coffee experience for shoppers. Since launch, the rollout has expanded rapidly, giving customers more opportunities to enjoy handcrafted coffee as part of their shopping journey while supporting local employment and investment.
What’s more, the partnership is set to continue growing with plans to open at least another 14 Costa Coffee stores in Sainsbury’s supermarkets this year.
Tom Falk, Head of Property at Costa Coffee said: “We’re incredibly proud to be celebrating the opening of our 50th Costa Coffee store within Sainsbury’s. This milestone is a testament to the strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to bringing great coffee experiences to communities across the UK. We’re especially pleased that this growth has enabled us to create over 400 jobs and invest nearly £16million nationwide. We look forward to welcoming customers in Leicester.”
Richard Murrell, Sainsbury’s Head of Food to Go & Partnerships, said: “I’m delighted to see how our partnership with Costa Coffee has grown. From opening the first store inside Sainsbury’s just a couple of years ago, we have now reached our 50th Costa Coffee store, at our Leicester North supermarket.
“This milestone shows how popular the brand is with our customers, whether they are enjoying a Costa coffee in-store or picking up lunch on the go while shopping with us. We’re excited to be celebrating this achievement and look forward to building on our success as we continue opening more stores together in the coming months.”
Alongside the store estate, Costa Coffee already operates more than 1,500 Costa Express machines across Sainsbury’s stores and petrol stations. Combined with its Ready to Drink and At Home ranges, customers have the flexibility to enjoy Costa Coffee wherever and however they choose, whether in-store, on the go, at home or at work.
The Costa Coffee store at Sainsbury’s Leicester North Superstore is now open (7am–7pm Monday to Saturday, 9:30am–4pm Sunday). To find your nearest Costa Coffee store, visit: https://www.costa.co.uk/locations/store-locator/map