The first format will be Caffè Carluccio’s, which will launch in Sainsbury’s St Albans superstore on 3 June and be the first Carluccio’s to open in a supermarket.
Spread over 900sq ft, the coffee shop will have 45 covers and serve the brand’s 'signature' Italian coffee alongside a range of iced coffees, Cremosa blended drinks and granita fruit ices.
There will also be all-day breakfast foods and light-bites, including freshly made ciabatta sandwiches, toasties, filled croissants and pastries; and a range of Carluccio’s retail products including biscuits such as biscotti and cantucci, ground coffee, and gianduiotti chocolates.
In addition, a Carluccio’s Counter will also launch in June in the Sainsbury’s Leamington Spa superstore.
The concept will stock a range of Carluccio's-branded deli products such as pasta, olive oils and sauces, alongside chilled stone-baked pizzas.
Hot ready-to-eat items, include made-to-order pizza and rotisserie chicken, which will be available to take-away, as well as for delivery via Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat.
The third concept being trialled by BRG is Restaurant Hub, a multi-brand offer with grab-and-go and delivery options from brands including Caffe Carluccio’s, GBK, Slim Chickens, Harry Ramsdens and Ed’s Easy Diner.
Restaurant Hub will open in July in Sainsbury’s Selly Oak superstore.
“Our customers tell us they love our brands and would like to access them more regularly and be part of their family home occasions," says Satnam Leihal, managing director at BRG.
"This trial with Sainsbury’s allows us to bring our range of high quality products to more customers, more often, in varied formats.”
BRG acquired Carluccio's last year in a deal worth just £3.4m, after the ailing Italian restaurant chain collapsed into administration little more than a week after having been forced to close all its UK sites for the first time as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic in March last year.
The announcement by BRG follows reports yesterday (11 May) that sandwich chain Pret A Manger is to open four new stores in Tesco supermarkets as part of a drive to expand its reach beyond the high street.
