British retailer The Co-operative Group has announced that it will launch 12 stores in London over the next four weeks, creating hundreds of new jobs.
The Co-op’s property, strategy and development director, Stuart Hookins, said, “2018 has been one of our most successful years of new store openings, with more than 100 new stores opening their doors across the UK, over a third of which are in London and the South East, and we’re always looking for new locations where we can be at the heart of local life."
Store Location
The convenience retailer has invested £9 million (€10.2 million) in the new stores, which are located in Rotherhithe Street in Southwark, Portman Square in Westminster, and Hampton Road in Twickenham.
“We believe our success is due to launching the right stores, in the right locations," Hookins said.
"Ultimately, it’s all about getting closer to our members and customers, providing what they want, when and where they need it.”
The stores have been designed to allow customers to have a better in-store experience.
'Further Expansion'
Stuart added, “These new store launches, together with our ever-growing range of locally-sourced produce and increasing member numbers put us in a strong position for the future as we look towards further expansion in 2019 and beyond.”
The retailer is also offering a 5% reward on purchases of own-brand products and services to customers who have signed up for Co-op's membership scheme.
As a part of the launch, other offers and promotions have also been introduced, including a 10% discount on groceries for students in Greater London holding an NUS card.
These new stores are opening shortly after Co-op announced a £45 million investment in a new distribution centre in Bedfordshire, to support its ambitious growth plans in London and the South East.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
