Brent Cross – Aviator Drive 8 Aviator Drive London NW2 8AA
© Vicki Couchman Photographer
07957226911
vickicouchman.com
Co-op opens the first grocery store in Brent Cross Town, marking a major milestone for Related Argent and Barnet Council’s £8bn park town.
The 3,000sq ft store on Neighbourhood Square, in the heart of the development, is designed to be a local hub, playing a central role in everyday life.
The store offers a comprehensive selection, including everyday essentials, a wide range of fresh and healthy produce, hot food, a bakery, world foods and Costa Coffee Express.
Online home delivery is available via Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats, with the groceries picked fresh in the store, and delivered quickly and conveniently to the local community. Payment services are available through PayPoint.
Member price savings create additional value for Co-op members enabling them to benefit from personalised offers, exclusive deals and promotions, as well as lower prices on the products they purchase most frequently.
Parcel collection services will also be available via an InPost Locker – the 300th to be installed as part of the convenience retailer’s partnership with InPost.
Reflecting Brent Cross Town’s vision to be a net zero town, Co-op installed fridges that use natural alternatives to help reduce carbon emissions and, also use heat recovery to heat the store – in line with Co-op’s own commitments to reaching net zero across its operations .
The store also makes it more convenient for local residents to recycle soft plastics – including crisp packets, bread bags, lids from ready meals, biscuit wrappers and pet food pouches – by offering an in-store recycling point for materials that are typically harder to recycle. Additionally, to minimise food waste, surplus food is donated to Claremont Primary School Community Foodbank, with a £250 donation also made as part of the store’s launch day celebrations.
In line with Brent Cross Town’s commitment to social value, the opening of the new store has created 15 jobs.
Mohamed Mahrood, Co-op store manager, said: “The whole team is delighted to launch Co-op’s newest store in Brent Cross Town, and proud to be the first grocery retailer to join the development. The store looks fantastic. We have a focus on being a hub locally, delivering the quality, choice, value and added services which can be enjoyed by everyone in this exciting, diverse and vibrant community. We’re here to contribute to local life and conveniently serve and support Brent Cross Town, we look forward to meeting the community and welcoming members and customers into their new Co-op.”
Rachel Hargreaves, director of property, development and estates, Co-op, said: “I am delighted to see Co-op become the first grocery store at this exciting new development. It is also a significant moment for Co-op, opening its newest store in London and illustrating our appetite to acquire new retail space, both freehold and leasehold, while we are also investing to maximise the potential of our existing estate. Our stores are designed to be a destination locally, community hub’s combining great quality products, value, deals and ethical retailing with quick online delivery services and community participation – we have a clear focus on growing our convenience business, and enhancing the value we create and deliver for our members, customers and communities.”
Charmaine Rees, senior retail asset manager at Related Argent, said: “This opening embodies our shared commitment to sustainability and supporting the local community, ensuring residents have access to quality food and services close to home. It marks a fantastic milestone in our ongoing retail strategy and is the first of many new shops and restaurants that will make North London’s newest high street a vibrant destination.”
Once complete, Brent Cross Town will boast 6,700 new homes, 3m sq ft of offices, a high street, three redeveloped schools, 50 acres of parks and playing fields and over 50 restaurants and shops. Over 1,000 people currently call Brent Cross Town home,
This summer saw the first residents move into purpose-built BTR homes at Brent Cross Town, adding to a growing community that includes tenants in Conductor House (managed by L&Q), homeowners in The Delamarre and The Ashbee and students in Fusion’s purpose-built student accommodation. Planning permission has also been granted for the park town’s first retirement living homes and co-living apartments.
Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operatives, with its history dating back more than 180 years. With a store in every postal area, Co-op exists to create value for its membership and communities – its 7m members own the business and play an intrinsic part in the governance of the organisation.
Co-op has revealed that 50 stores – new or, refurbished with transformative investment – would launch during November and December.
