Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Co-op is ramping up its investment in London, as it prepares to open a record number of 30 new food stores and refresh seven from its portfolio in the region.
The £28 million investment forms part of the convenience retailer’s 2018 store expansion plan, and is set to create up to 600 jobs in the Greater London area.
The first phase of new stores – which will all have a focus on fresh, healthy foods, meal ideas and essentials – are at Walthamstow, Colliers Wood Station, Cricklewood, Colindale Station and Paddington.
Co-op divisional managing director Peter Batt said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for the Co-op in London as we gear up to launch and refit a record number of stores across the capital.
“As well as being hubs for the local community, our stores are committed to providing a consistently brilliant in-store experience, allowing customers living in busy urban areas to get what they want, when they want.
“We’re very proud of how much we achieved last year and our membership message really seems to be striking a chord with shoppers. We now have over 330,000 members in the capital who together have helped us to raise almost £3m for 1,000 good causes since we launched our new membership scheme last September. Just by swiping a membership card, people can make a real difference to local life and become a co-owner of their local Co-op.
“Our new store launches and refits, together with our ever-growing range of locally-sourced produce and increasing member numbers, put us in a strong position for the future as we look towards further expansion in 2019 and beyond.”
There are offers and promotions in and around the new stores to mark their launch. Plus, students in Greater London holding an NUS (National Union of Students) card will receive a 10% discount off their groceries.
