Co-op opens 100th food store of 2016

The Co-op has spent £67m opening 100 new food stores this year and a further £60m refitting existing shops.

The 100^th store opened on 8 December in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire.

Of the food stores opened this year, 10% are in the North West; stores have opened in Blackpool, St Helens, Northwich, Sale, Stockport, Liverpool, Widnes, Preesall, Salford, Formby and Wilmslow.

The Co-op says its new stores account for just under half of all new food retail outlets opened by major retailers in 2016.

Stuart Hookins, property portfolio and development director at the Co-op, said: “Whilst other retailers are scaling back their expansion plans, the Co-op continues to open new convenience stores. We have a strong pipeline of new stores for 2017, however we need more. We plan to open hundreds of new stores over the next few years and we are actively seeking new opportunities.

“The launch of the ‘5 & 1 membership scheme’ – which sees Co-op members receive a 5% reward on purchases of Co-op own-branded products and services, with a further 1% going to local causes – is proving incredibly popular and driving footfall, with over half a million shoppers joining us since the scheme’s inception in September.

“Our core convenience business continues to outperform the market as witnessed by Kantar’s figures – we are the fastest growing non-discounter and most frequently visited convenience store.”