Co-op signs up to Scottish gift card initiatives supporting local economies

Print

Co-op has announced that it has joined the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card and Town & City Gift Card ‘shop local’ initiatives.

Local-Gift-Card.png

The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card, which was introduced by Scotland’s Towns Partnership and Miconex in 2021, plus Miconex’s Town & City Gift Cards, are designed to support local economies by helping to keep spending in communities.

Co-op operates more than 300 stores in communities across Scotland, and participates in the shop local initiatives.

The convenience retailer joins a blend of national retailers and local independent businesses who accept the cards, with shoppers simply swiping the card at the till in participating stores.

Kate McCrae Graham, Co-op operations director, said: “Co-op stores operate in more than 300 towns, villages and cities across Scotland – working to form part of the fabric of community life, while creating jobs and supporting local suppliers.

“We are pleased to put our name to the cards that are designed to support local high streets and economies.”

The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card is an extension of the wider Scotland Loves Local drive, which encourages people to strengthen communities by getting behind the businesses operating in them.

Kimberley Guthrie, interim chief officer at Scotland’s Towns Partnership, said: “The addition of the Co-op and its network of stores is fantastic. The greater the number of places in which people can spend, the greater the reasons are for people to spend more time in their community, supporting an even wider range of local businesses.

“The ripple effects of the gift card can be fantastic, helping to build better places.”

Colin Munro, managing director of Miconex, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Co-op to the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card and Town & City Gift Card programmes.

“What makes these local gift cards unique – and sets them apart from other gift cards – is the blend of national retailers and local independents who all operate in our local communities, giving people ultimate local choice in one gift card.”