The first Caffè Carluccio’s launched yesterday (2 June) in Sainsbury’s St Albans superstore, and is the first Carluccio’s-branded site to open in a supermarket.
BRG acquired the Carluccio's business 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 as a result of the first Coronavirus lockdown.
Spread over 900sq ft, Caffè Carluccio’s has 45 covers and serve the brand’s 'signature' Italian coffee alongside a range of iced coffees, Cremosa blended drinks and granita fruit ices.
There is also all-day breakfast foods and light-bites featuring on the menu, 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.
Alongside its newly established partnership with Sainsbury’s, BRG will be looking to roll out the Caffè Carluccio’s concept in travel hubs, city centres and neighbourhood locations across the UK.
“We acquired Carluccio’s in May 2020 and are rebuilding the much-loved brand by evolving the concept whilst adhering to its authentic Italian routes," says Satnam Leihal, managing director of BRG.
"Our customers tell us they want Carluccio’s to be part of their everyday and as such we are delivering a multi-channel and multi-format strategy for the brand."
Caffè Carluccio’s is one of three brands BRG will be launching in partnership with Sainsbury's over the coming weeks.
The second, Carluccio’s Counter, will also launch this month in the Sainsbury’s Leamington Spa superstore.
It 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.