// Co-op to double its franchise estate to 30 stores by end of this year
// Five stores will be opening in the next six weeks
// Co-op head of new channels Martin Rogers said franchise gets Co-op into a space it has never been before
The Co-op has reportedly set out plans to double its franchise estate to 30 stores by the end of this year.
The convenience retailer said that five stores will be opening in the next six weeks, including its first-ever franchise store at a service station opening today.
The Cornwall Services store will span 2000sq ft and will offer an extensive food-to-go range, hot and cold sandwiches, snacks, chilled drinks, pastries from the in-store bakery and Co-op’s Ever Ground Fairtrade coffee, The Grocer reported.
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Co-op head of new channels Martin Rogers said franchise gets Co-op into a space where it has never been before.
He added that the agility of the franchise models allows Co-op to open more stores where it normally wouldn’t launch.
Other stores that are due to open include a “healthy pipeline” of stores in universities, neighbourhoods, and city centres, which the retailer will be revealing in the coming weeks.
The Co-op currently operates six franchise stores on university campuses as well as three with Nisa partners, its first franchise partnership with a catering business, Gather & Gather, and four Costcutter company-owned stores.
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