Co-op gears up for retail expansion with £130m autumn stores surge

The leading convenience retailer will launch over 65 new and extended stores in the final months of 2020, with 100-plus outlets also being given a major upgrade during the same period.

The Co-op claims the autumn burst of retail activity adds up to a £130m investment programme for its business. All its new stores will run on 100% renewable electricity.

The Co-op is also planning to add 12 franchise stores this year, including ones at Oxford Brookes University, Oxfordshire, and the University of Stirling, Scotland. The Co-op says it plans to develop more stores in university campuses during 2021.

This year’s expansion programme will generate up to 1,000 new jobs at the leading convenience chain in addition to the 1,000-plus permanent roles that came from temporary jobs created during lockdown.

David Roberts, managing director, Co-op Property, said: “The Co-op works to operate at the heart of local life, making a difference in its communities. Multiple factors motivate consumers, with ease, choice and added services chief among them.

“We continually look for new locations, sites which are definitively convenient in their community – closer to our members and customers with proximity shopping a key consumer consideration. Through our partnership approach, we are enriching our offer to make convenience truly compelling in our communities.”

The Co-op currently operates over 2,600 food stores. It also owns Nisa Retail and its own-label brands are stocked by 90% of almost 4,000 Nisa outlets.

The Co-op’s partnership with the John Lewis click & collect service is also now available in more than 500 of its stores. The Co-op has also become the most widely available supermarket on the Deliveroo app with 400-plus of its stores now making deliveries.