We have 24 hour super markets, but why do they not provide any facilities to have a cup of coffee or anything.

Question

why do the cafes close at 8.00p.m or what ever

Answer 1

Some do.  I believe it is an individual store thing.  I have been to a few that had urns of fresh coffee available for their overnight shoppers.

Answer 2

My local Asda is 24hr. They sell coffee, milk, kettles, water, mugs, spoons and sugar. Not sure they'd be too keen on you sitting down and making a cup mid shop tho.

Answer 3

not enough people in there to use them probably and there would be too much waste .........wouldn't want to eat into there own profits now would they

Answer 4

A reason could be the staff: paying them and employing them for all night is a problem. Especially when it's very unlikely that there's going to be a lot of customers and sales in the cafe at that time in the night.

Most people shopping at a supermarket are normally locals and can have that cup of coffee etc at home.

Cafe's are open 24 hours at service stations because that's where they're needed.

Answer 5

Late at night, not many people in the store. A nice warm cafe is going to attract gangs of kids that won't be spending and need to be watched.

How soon we forget our youth :0)

Answer 6

I think it's pure economics. 24 hour supermarkets make sense because there are only a few shoppers but lots of staff filling shelves and doing other jobs that need to be done overnight. Therefore, all the overheads are there and any money taken from the occasional shopper is a bonus. I have a habit of shopping at Tesco in the middle of the night. There isn't a dedicated cashier most of the time after midnight. Instead, as soon as a shopper approaches a till, someone breaks off from shelf filling to operate the till.

Occasionally there is a short rush of shoppers and they'll open two or three tills to ensure that everyone is served quickly. This compares to the 40 or more tills that they have operating at peak times.

Answer 7

good point. Probably not enough demand to keep staff on 24 hours, but what about a couple of hot drinks vending machines and a chance to sit and relax.  I would probably have a break, and then go and spend more money.  I would welcome that chance.