Co-op adds to property team
The Co-operative Food has appointed Nicola Piper to its trading property team as extensions and development manager.
Piper has worked at the Co-operative Group for 18 months and moved from within the banking group to work on food store extensions and new developments across the country.
She was previously at property and infrastructure consultancy, Sweett Group, where she worked on major developments including Liverpool ONE for Grosvenor Developments, and the redevelopment of Blackpool Tower and Winter Gardens.
Piper started her career as a graduate trainee at Marks & Spencer, before becoming a store manager and then moving into store development.
Martin Vickerman, national business development manager for the Co-operative Food, said: "Nicola has extensive experience of working on developments and we are delighted she has joined the property team to help us grow the food business.
"Her appointment demonstrates our commitment to continue our ongoing expansion plans through store acquisitions, extensions and new developments."
The Co-operative has completed several extension projects this year, including a scheme to double the size of its Alsager store in Cheshire.
The group is investing in its existing estate, focusing on extensions and new developments, and is actively acquiring stores, either leasehold or freehold, between 2,000 sq ft and 4,000 sq ft in high street and local community locations across the UK.
