The Co-op is embarking on a hiring spree, hoping to attract 1,000 additional members of staff to ring tills of its convenience stores during peak trading hours in a competitive grocery market. The new workers would be a 50% increase on the number of staff needed to operate the 200 extra convenience outlets set to open over the next two years.
Steve Murrells, CEO of Retail at parent company, the Co-operative Group, said: “The modern busy lifestyle is leading to more consumers adopting a grazing mentality, which sees them shop in a little-and-often way each week. These ‘grazers‘ are leading a major shift in shopping habits, which marks a return to the way people used to shop before the advent of larger supermarkets.”
The Co-op finds itself in a battle of the supermarkets, as big four grocers Tesco and Sainsbury‘s increase the number of their own convenience stores and German discounters Aldi and Lidl continue to grow market share.
Murrells is overseeing a massive overhaul of the Co-op convenience stores as well as pledging £125m for lowering the price of everyday essentials.
