COFFEE wars are being sparked in Huddersfield with the arrival of one of the big chains.
Caffe Nero will open next month and it is the first time an outlet has been opened in the town by a major coffee bar operator.
It is set to present a big challenge to the independents and the local Merrie England chain.
Caffe Nero finance director Ben Price said he was confident it would be a great success.
The new coffee bar is to open in the former Yorkshire Building Society premises in New Street, near to the King Street junction.
Mr Price said: "Huddersfield is an up-and-coming town and we wanted to be here.
"We have got a good location, very central in the town, and we are confident it will be a great success."
Fitting out is in progress and it is expected to be a further five weeks before the new venture opens.
Between 10 to 15 jobs will be created.
The coffee bar will be open during daytime hours, seven days a week.
Bosses say their aim is to create a European-style coffee house experience with music and authentic Italian food.
Trading will be on two floors of the town centre building.
Yorkshire Building Society moved out last month to a new branch on the other side of the New Street and King Street junction.
Caffe Nero is Britain's third-largest coffee shop operator, behind Costa Coffee and Starbucks.
The chain is opening four new coffee bars a month and plans to have 210 outlets in Britain by the end of May.
Expansion plans were revealed yesterday as Caffe Nero announced near-trebled profits.
Pre-tax profits were £1.89m in the six months to the end of November after turnover rose by 40% to £33m.
