The Co-op has announced big expansion plans – including a new store in York.
The famous retailer proposes to open 100 new food stores in 2018, creating around 1,600 jobs.
Many will be in London, but it is also targeting UK cities including Leicester, Manchester, Nottingham; Plymouth, Southampton – and York.
The retailer will invest more than £160 million in the venture, as well as giving “major makeovers” to a further 150 outlets.
Positive change
There’s no news yet as to where the new store will be in York.
The city already has 11 Co-op shops in the city, plus two in petrol stations.
This expansion follows news that the Co-op is to be the exclusive wholesale supplier to 2,200 Costcutter Group stores, and the deal to buy Nisa Retail, which is conditional on Competition and Markets Authority approval.
Jo Whitfield, chief executive of Co-op Food said: “The Co-op is positively responding to the changes occurring within this dynamic sector. Our food business is going from strength to strength in what is clearly a challenging retail market.
“We have the ambition for our stores to be at the heart of local life, bringing communities together and offering our members and customers great quality products when and where they need them.”