The Co-op has announced a significant expansion of its UK retail presence this week, with 11 new stores set to open their doors to customers across the country. This forms a key part of the retailer's ambitious plan to launch and refurbish more than 200 sites throughout the 2024/25 financial year.
A Festive Boost for Shoppers
This week's openings are particularly timely, as they are among 50 new Co-op stores confirmed to be opening in time for the crucial Christmas trading period. The new locations represent a mix of brand-new sites, stores operated by franchise partners, and existing shops that are re-opening after receiving substantial transformative investment to enhance the customer experience.
Kate McCrae, Co-op Operations Director, emphasised the community-focused nature of this growth. She stated: "We are focussed on creating local stores which are more than just a shop – they are a hub locally that contribute to local life and meet the needs of communities, conveniently."
Strategic Locations and Community Investment
Among the notable openings is the Co-op's debut as the first permanent retailer at the new Brent Cross Town development in London, a major new park town project. This strategic move establishes a foothold in a growing community from its inception.
Further strengthening its national network, the retailer is also launching its latest franchise store in Frampton Cotterell, Bristol. Meanwhile, customers from Somerset to Inverness and the Scottish Highlands will see new-look stores re-opening following significant investment. This expansion follows recent store launches in Blaenavon, Oxenhope near Keighley in Yorkshire, and Penkhull in Staffordshire last week.
Ms McCrae added: "We’re investing in stores and communities right across the UK because we believe in the future of the high street – creating local jobs and backing British farmers and suppliers." She also highlighted the need for government support, calling for fair business rate reform in the upcoming Budget to provide the stability needed for sustained retail growth.
What to Expect at the New Co-op Stores
Each new Co-op store will provide local access to the retailer's core services, which typically include:
- A range of parcel collection services.
- Access to cash through free-to-use ATMs.
- Rapid online home delivery of groceries, often in 60 minutes or less.
The Co-op, one of the world's largest consumer co-operatives owned by over seven million members, continues its 180-year history of serving local communities with this latest wave of investment.
The full list of 11 Co-op stores opening this week includes:
- Frampton Cotterell, Bristol
- Brent Cross Town, London
- Church Street, Inverness
- Bassett Green Road, Southampton
- Church Street, Gamlingay, Bedfordshire
- Mansfield Road, Clipstone, Nottinghamshire
- Kentish Town Road, Kentish Town, London
- Brora, Scottish Highlands
- Wordsworth Avenue, Stratford-Upon-Avon
- Main Street, Swallownest, Sheffield
- Stiby Road, Yeovil
