New Co-op franchise store opens in Ridgewood

A new Co-op store has been opened on Thursday in Ridgewood, Uckfield, which will operate as a Co-op franchise.

The consumer co-operative said it is committed to growing its franchise business, with the model enabling Co-op to bring its products and, the benefits of Membership, to more communities.

The retailer provides its franchise partners the opportunity to receive all the support, knowledge, training and technical expertise needed to successfully own, open and operate a Co-op convenience store.

The 2,500 sq ft purpose-built convenience store, located in Eastbourne Road, Ridgewood, brings into use surplus space in the grounds of the Highlands Inn creating a ‘community hub’, while supporting 13 local jobs.

The store includes customer car parking; a cash machine, in-store bakery and a Costa Coffee Express machine. This sits alongside a focus on fresh, healthy products, meal ideas and everyday essentials, food-to-go, Fairtrade products, chilled beers and award winning wines, ready meals, pizzas and free-from, vegan and plant-based products.

There is also a soft plastic recycle unit available in store to enable the community to recycle ‘soft plastics’ including: crisp packets and bread bags, lids from ready meals and yogurt pots, biscuit wrappers and, pet food pouches - ensuring all Co-op’s own food packaging is recyclable through either local authority kerbside collections, or the in-store soft plastic recycling.

James Thirlway, store manager, said: “The whole team is delighted to launch Co-op’s newest store, to serve and support our community. We are enjoying welcoming Member-owners and customers into their new Co-op. Our aim is to operate at the heart of local life, we’ve worked to develop the range, choice and added services to create a really compelling offer, conveniently. This includes a focus on delivering member-value so that the people who own our business, Co-op's member-owners, benefit every time they shop.”