// The Co-op spends over £25m on new store openings
// Grocer is focused on small, 5000sq ft properties for expansion
// Up to 500 jobs created with new store launches in November & December
The Co-op has spent more than £25 million opening 30 new stores in the UK across November and December.
Defying the trend for shrinking property estates, the grocer has focused new locations at transport hubs and residential apartments, creating up to 500 jobs in the process.
READ MORE: November grocery sales slow down despite Black Friday
The retailer said all of its new stores will run on 100 per cent renewable electricity.
“Ease, speed and convenience continue to rise in importance for today’s time-pressed shopper – and, our focus is all about selecting the right location to deliver what our members and customers want, need and care about, conveniently,” Co-op portfolio director Stuart Hookins said.
New Co-op stores opening in November and December include:
- Barrachnie, Baillieston Road
- Biggin Hill, Rosehill Road
- Bognor Regis, Chichester Road
- Bristol, Coronation Road
- Broughton, Garstang Road
- Burgess Hill, Kings Weald
- Cambridge, Cherry Hinton Road
- Carmarthen, Jobs Well Road
- Chichester, East Street
- Derbyshire Lane, Sheffield (S8)
- Edinburgh, Milton Road West
- Forest Hill, Stanstead Road
- Forres, Grantown Road
- Galston, Henrietta Street
- Gravesend, East Milton Road
- Greenwich Peninsula, Chandlers Avenue
- Hoylake, Market Street
- Ilford, Longwood Gardens
- Milborne Port
- New Waltham, Station Road
- Newbury, Monument Close
- Northwood Hills, Joel Street
- Pontesbury, Hall Bank (Shropshire)
- Purton, Station Road
- Rochester, Riverside
- Salford Quays
- Stirling, Causewayhead Road
- Stornoway, Cromwell Street
- Wemyss Bay, Shore Road
- Willesden Green (NW2)
The Co-op added that it iwa looking to “freehold or leasehold” commercial property sites of up to 5000sq ft – a strategic move to add smaller stores to its estate also seen by Morrisons, according to Collier’s UK Grocery Real Estate Review for 2019.
The Leeds-based retailer is said to be expanding cautiously in “pioneering locations” by opening food only stores in locations where they currently lack representation and a gap in food store provision exists.
Yesterday, new results from Kantar Worldpanel showed Lidl had reached a market share high of 6.1 per cent, bringing it neck-and-neck with the Co-op.
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