Investment programme sees Co-op create ‘hundreds’ of jobs

Central England Co-operative invested nearly £12 million in new food stores and funeral services last year, creating hundreds of jobs in the process.

The Co-op opened ten new food stores and two new funeral booking offices in 2019. It also relaunched six funeral homes and nine convenience stores, and says further investment is planned for 2020.

The society’s development programme brought investment to sites in Birmingham, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Stafford.

Its new food stores have been fitted out with energy efficient refrigeration technologies and LED lighting to minimise environmental impact. Many also include free water refill stations, phone charging areas, indoor and outdoor seating, collection points for local food banks and customer toilets.

Paul Murray, a store manager for the Co-op, said: “All of us here at Central England Co-operative food stores across our trading area are proud to be part of such great communities and are looking forward to welcoming all customers, old and new, to come and enjoy our new and revamped Food Stores.”