Co-op to launch 24 new stores and refits in quarter two
CO-OP Group has revealed that it will launch 24 new stores and refurbishments in the quarter to the end of June across Britain.
The investment will take the total number of stores opening or reopening in the first half of this year to more than 40, stretching from the north of Scotland to the south coast of England.
Co-op says the cash injection shows its commitment to backing Britain’s high streets and communities, with a focus on providing the best small shops locally, acting as a community hub and destination.
The aim is to offer great quality, choice and value for customers in every postal area, alongside a range of added services including coffee, payment services and parcel collection.
Rapid home delivery of orders through Co-op’s online shop (shop.coop.co.uk) and partners including Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats is also part of the proposition. Orders are picked fresh in the local store, ensuring it benefits from the online operation, before being delivered conveniently in the community.
The growth plans include franchise stores, with Co-op hoping to increase the number of these outlets from 65 at the end of 2025 to more than 100 sites during 2026. The franchise stores include locations such as university campuses, hospitals and forecourts.
Stores already opened in Scotland in the first half of the year include Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire, Innerleithen in Peeblesshire, Tarbert in Argyll and Killearn in Stirlingshire. There are also plans to open a franchise Co-op outlet at a forecourt in Stepps, Glasgow, in the coming weeks.
Kate McCrae, Co-op operations director, said: “We’re investing to create local stores that are more than just a shop, they are a convenient hub contributing to local life and meeting the needs of communities.
“Whether it’s quality food for an evening at home, food and drink on the go, a top-up shop or our wide range of added services – we’re here to serve and support communities, conveniently.
“Local shops are an anchor at the heart of local communities, and we’re moving through 2026 with a strong focus on our members, customers and communities, and a programme designed to enhance Co-op’s presence in high streets and communities across the UK.”
