Central Co-op to open 17 new stores

Central Co-op is looking to open a record number of new stores this year, recent reports state.

CEO at the group Debbie Robinson said that 17 new stores will be added to its estate in 2023, where it usually aims for 10 to 15, along with 30 store refurbs. Along with the 17 new stores and 30 refurbs this year, Central Co-op is investing in solar panels and electronic shelf-edge labels across its estate to boost efficiency and “to make the jobs in store as simple as we possibly can”.

Central Co-op will also venture into north Yorkshire for the first time this year with the opening of a new store.

“We’re looking to be as efficient and effective as we can to reduce our costs,” reports quoted Robinson as saying.

“The biggest benefit is a united single co-operative network, which means we will have fewer distribution points for suppliers. The money it will save will also allow the business to drive more investment into new stores, regenerations and technology,” she added.

The news comes weeks after it was reported that Central Co-op has extended its member prices to include over 100 items, including fresh produce, in a bid to reinforce its commitment to member savings.

These member prices will be locked until Easter, the retailer said, ensuring members can enjoy savings as the cost-of-living crisis continues.

Central Co-op is one of the largest independent retail co-op societies in the UK, with a heritage stretching back over 175 years.

Owned by hundreds of thousands of members, its 7,700 colleagues serve customers across 440 plus trading sites in 19 counties in the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.