Co-op has revealed its commitment to continued convenience growth with a planned 75 new stores opening this year (2025), across the UK.
The new stores will be both Co-op estate stores and Co-op franchise stores, a sector the convenience retailer has actively pursued recently with strong growth. In addition to the new stores, around 80 further stores will undertake major refurbishments in 2025, transforming the stores to maximise the potential of Co-op’s existing portfolio of properties.
Convenience is Co-op’s core area of expertise, with its stores going far beyond just offering traditional groceries, with added services designed to create a destination and community hub including parcel collection and returns; payment services, and operating as a hub for Co-op’s leading* online quick commerce operation.
In addition, Co-op’s stores provide a window on to high streets for the growth of its front-of-store digital media screens and, a focal point to bring to life the social, economic and democratic benefits of membership, including Co-op’s focus on creating additional value in communities through member-price savings and, its members having a say in how Co-op makes a difference locally with local community causes.
Matt Hood, Co-op’s managing director said: “We want everyone to have easy and convenient access to a Co-op store, wherever they live, and this year we are completely focused on achieving that through an ambitious and exciting new stores strategy. Not only are we a membership organisation owned by our six million members, we are experts in convenience shopping, where we combine great quality products, value and deals and ethical retailing with quick online delivery services, community participation and additional customer services. Our stores play an active role in local life, and are often a community hub, providing the products and services our members and customers want and need.”
Co-op’s plans for new stores in 2025 include up to 25 new Co-op operated stores – part of ambitions for 120 new stores over the next four years – with the first new Co-op stores to open in early 2025 in: Salford Quays – The Anchorage and East Benton – Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Furthermore, up to 50 stores are expected to open and operate as a franchise this year (2025) – enabling Co-op to bring its products and the benefits of membership to more communities, and operate in locations where it may not otherwise be able to access. The move builds on Franchise growth in 2024 which included innovative new locations where Co-op shares its convenience expertise with quality partners. Last year saw Co-op franchise stores open on more university campus; a first for Co-op with a store opening in a hospital, on petrol forecourts (in partnership with EG On The Move), plus a Co-op store at HMS Collingwood (in partnership with ESS) to enhance the lived experience of service personnel.
Up to an additional 80 existing stores will also undertake major refurbishments in 2025, maximising the potential of Co-op’s existing portfolio of properties to serve and support communities, and creating stores which are fit for the future while ensuring Co-op maintains a store in every postal area. Stores set to re-launch following major makeovers in early 2025 include those in Exeter; Brighton; Bristol; Cambridgeshire; Hampshire; Avonmouth; Hereford and Clapham
Co-op continues to look for new freehold and leasehold space as it maintains its momentum in convenience
Co-op stores act as micro-distribution hubs for its online home delivery operation – with Co-op’s model seeing orders picked fresh in local stores and delivered quickly and conveniently in the community so that the high street store benefits from online orders. Co-op is working to grow its share of the quick commerce market to over 30% by focusing on both its own Co-op platform (shop.coop.co.uk) and with its partners including Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo. Co-op has been named top grocer across all major delivery platforms, and stores in more communities will further support e-commerce reach and growth.
Plus, as part of Co-op’s commitments to carbon reduction, it has announced ambitions to install up to 76,000 solar panels on up to 700 of its sites across its food, funeralcare and logistic portfolio over the next three years.
Co-op is on track to achieve its ambition of growing to eight million members by 2030, with new stores bringing the benefits of membership, including member savings, to more local communities.
