The Co-op Group says a £25m investment has seen it open 30 stores throughout November and December.
The programme includes new retail sites at transport hubs, key city locations and residential apartments, creating up to 500 jobs.
The stores will run on 100% renewable electricity and include a free ATM, coffee dispenser and bakery alongside a focus on fresh, chilled and healthy products, food-to-go, vegan and free-from foods, award winning wines, meal ideas and, essentials. Car parking and Amazon lockers are also available at selected stores.
They will provide a funding boost for local community causes through the Group’s membership scheme – which sees members receive a 5% reward on purchases of own brand products, with the retailer donating a further 1% to local causes.
This is highlighted in this year’s Christmas TV ad from the Group, with the South Wales-based BTM Brass Band – which received a funding boost to inspire the next generation of player – playing The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York. The band is of more than 4,000 causes which were supported by the Co-op in communities across the UK, sharing a £17m hand-out this festive season.
Stuart Hookins, the Group’s director of portfolio and development, said: “Ease, speed and convenience continue to rise in importance for today’s time-pressed shopper and, our focus is all about selecting the right location to deliver what our members and customers want, need and care about, conveniently.
“Connecting communities and bringing people together is at the very core of the Co-op, and every time an own-branded product is bought by our members, local community groups receive funding. We continue to look for new sites which support our ambition to operate at the heart of local life and enable us to give back, and create social value in our communities.”
The Group is looking for freehold or leasehold commercial property sites of up to 5,000 sq ft (gross) and existing businesses with a net sales area of over 1,500 sq ft For more information visit https://www.coop.co.uk/property
New Co-op stores opening in November and December include:
- Barrachnie, Baillieston Road
- Biggin Hill, Rosehill Road
- Bognor Regis, Chichester Road
- Bristol, Coronation Road
- Broughton, Garstang Road
- Burgess Hill, Kings Weald
- Cambridge, Cherry Hinton Road
- Carmarthen, Jobs Well Road
- Chichester, East Street
- Derbyshire Lane, Sheffield (S8)
- Edinburgh, Milton Road West
- Forest Hill, Stanstead Road
- Forres, Grantown Road
- Galston, Henrietta Street
- Gravesend, East Milton Road
- Greenwich Peninsula, Chandlers Avenue
- Hoylake, Market Street
- Ilford, Longwood Gardens
- Milborne Port
- New Waltham, Station Road
- Newbury, Monument Close
- Northwood Hills, Joel Street
- Pontesbury, Hall Bank (Shropshire)
- Purton, Station Road
- Rochester, Riverside
- Salford Quays
- Stirling, Causewayhead Road
- Stornoway, Cromwell Street
- Wemyss Bay, Shore Road
- Willesden Green (NW2)
