The Co-op has announced that almost a third of its planned 100 new store openings this year will be located in London, creating around 600 jobs.
The grocery and convenience store retailer will invest £28 million on 30 food shops across the capital, including Cricklewood, Paddington and Walthamstow, as part of its aggressive expansion plan.
READ MORE:
Last week, the Co-op said it would spend £15 million in Yorkshire to open 10 new food stores while renovating another 11 stores. The localised scheme is set to create 250 jobs.
The expansion is part of the Co-op’s previously-announced £160 million investment to 100 new stores this year, after 100 were opened in 2017.
The nationwide expansion programme will also see the Co-op’s current 150 stores undergo a “major makeover”.
The news comes as the Co-op awaits a decision from the Competition and Markets Authority on its proposed £143 million takeover of convenience store chain Nisa.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
