Waitrose is reportedly in talks to buy sandwich and coffee chain Eat for around £100m.

The retailer is in exclusive, early-stage discussions to buy the 100-store chain – and a deal could be secured as soon as next month.

If the talks are successful, Waitrose could open Eat concessions in its stores.

It could also bolster the retailer’s ambitious plans to open convenience stores and move further into the food-to-go market.

Last year Waitrose joined forces with Shell to sell its products in forecourt stores. It also secured a similar deal with high street chemist Boots and opened its first outlets in Welcome Break motorway service stations.
( The Grocer, 29th March 2009)