Costa Coffee to serve a range of M&S food after hit to availability from supply chain crisis

Costa Coffee has revealed a partnership to sell Marks & Spencer (M&S) food in stores and drive-thru sites from next spring.

The move will likely be seen as building supply chain resilience following disruption to product availability across the fast food sector in recent months.

It would add more than 30 products, including sandwiches and salads, to Costa’s own food offering.

The coffee chain has not been immune to the supply chain difficulties experienced this year as global shipping is hit by strong demand.

The problems have been compounded by labour shortages – with the UK suffering particularly from a lack of delivery drivers and production staff.

Costa has previously blamed the HGV driver shortage for weak stocks of some products.

Costa said the range of M&S products, which would also include hot meal boxes and children’s food, would be available in more than 2,500 of its stores across the UK as well as via Drive-Thru lanes.

It said the range would “build on Costa’s current food range… to provide even more choice for customers.”

Neil Lake, Costa’s managing director for the UK and Ireland, said: “Following the recent launch of our amazing new festive menu, we are delighted to bring further festive cheer by announcing a new food collaboration with M&S Food, launching next year.”

M&S, which enjoyed a 2% rise in its share price, said the partnership would allow “many more customers the opportunity to enjoy our wide range of delicious sandwiches, salads and snacks.”