Co-op to open 100 new stores in 2019
The Co-op has unveiled plans to open 100 new food stores this year as part of plans to grow its convenience offering.
The retailer will also be giving 200 existing stores a major makeover.
Approximately one-third of the new stores will be situated in London and the South East. New locations in London will include Soho, Chiswick, Greenwich, Ilford and Queens Park. The Co-op is also set to launch new food-to-go format stores at Baker Street station and in a railway arch at the Minories.
In addition, over 40 new or improved Co-op stores will launch in Scotland in 2019 and the retailer is planning to open at least 10 new stores in Wales in Cardiff, Carmarthen, Hendreforgan, Machen, Pen Y Groes, Prestatyn and St Athan in the period.
Some of the openings will be in key city centre locations, transport hubs, university campuses and new communities in high rise residential developments.
Stuart Hookins, Co-op’s director of portfolio and development, said: ”The right location and range tailored to fulfil the shopping needs of a community is a cornerstone of our approach, and there has been an evolution in how we choose new locations and innovate our offer. This year will be the fourth consecutive year of opening around 100 new stores, and investing in a core convenience estate which has seen over four years of consecutive like for like sales growth.”
The Co-op announced last month that it has agreed terms for a new 661,000 square foot distribution depot in Bedfordshire to support its growth in and around the M25. The new facility is expected to open in 2022.
The retailer’s combined £200 million store investment programme could lead to the creation of around 1,500 new jobs.
