Co-op Group builds presence in Scotland and Wales

The Co-operative Group is beefing up its investment in North Wales and Scotland this autumn with £6.9m allocated to new stores, redevelopments and refurbishments.

The society, which is currently bidding to take over Nisa, will open five new stores in Scotland at a total cost of £3.5m – part of its £11m 2017 store expansion plan north of the border.

Paisley Road, Renfrew; and Main Road, Cardross, open today [October 26]. Castlehill Court, Doune; and Colpy Road, Olmeldrum are scheduled to open on November 23. The Brae, Cambusbarron, in Stirling, will open November 30.

The focus of the new outlets will be on fresh, health foods, meal ideas and essentials.

The openings come hard on the heels of last month’s announcement of plans for a new 12,000 sq ft distribution centre at Inverness Airport Business Park next year.

The £3.5m investment in North Wales will see a the Co-op undertake a seven-week programme at four sites.

Mostyn Avenue, Craig-y-Don, will reopen tomorrow [Friday], following a £350,000, four-week programme of works including a new layout, flooring and energy-efficient refrigeration.

A new-look Johnstown, Wrexham store, in Ruabon Road, relaunched earlier this month after a £800,000 makeover.

The petrol garage in Rhyl Road, Rhuddlan, has closed for a £1.7m investment to overhaul the forecourt with replacement infrastructure and tanks. The store and warehouse will be extended with a view to reopening November 23.

Ffordd Elan, Rhyl, has closed for a £600,000 extension that will see it more than double in size, including an enhanced in-store bakery, Costa coffee dispenser and extended range. A Co-op pop-up is operating at the site until the extended store reopens at the end of November.

Mike Pengelly, regional manager for the Co-op in Wales, said the investment would enable the business to better serve its communities, creating employment opportunities while enabling its local Welsh suppliers to reach wider markets.

“The Co-op is moving forward with a clear purpose and momentum. Our ambition is to ensure each of our stores is a local hub, a real asset for the community,” he said.

John McNeil, the Co-op’s divisional managing director, in Scotland said: “As well as being hubs for the local community, our stores are committed to providing a consistently brilliant in-store experience, allowing customers to get what they want, when they want it.”