Co-op plans £200m UK expansion

Co-operative Group has announced plans to open 100 new food stores in 2019 as part of a £200m investment. In addition to opening new shops, the retailer will provide makeovers for a further 200 stores. Around one-third of the community retailer’s new shops are planned for London and the South East. New London stores are set to include: Berwick Street, Soho; Chiswick; Greenwich; Ilford; and Queens Park. The Co-op is also on track to open new food-to-go format stores at Baker Street Station and in a railway arch at the Minories. This is the fourth consecutive year that Co-op has opened 100 new stores or more. Stuart Hookins, Co-op’s director of portfolio and development, said: “Shifts in consumer shopping trends have seen ease, speed and convenience continuing to rise in importance for time-pressed shoppers… Our strategy is to offer the products members and customers want, need and care about, closer to where they live and work.”   To send feedback, e-mail anna.ward@egi.co.uk or tweet @annaroxelana or @estatesgazette