Co-op excited over ‘pop-up’ shop potential

THE CO-OPERATIVE has unveiled its latest weapon in the battle for grocery customers – a pop-up kiosk for use when its shops are being refurbished.

If the mobile units are successful in this primary use, they could be used at festivals or a transport hubs as a new way of reaching-out to customers.

The first kiosk will be used in earnest for the first time in a car park at a store at Cropwell Bishop in Nottinghamshire, while the shop is closed for a week for a revamp. The unit is 4 metres by 2.3 metres and sells 120 products, mostly everyday essentials such as milk, bread and newspapers.

The Manchester-based retailer, which is refitting 240 shops this year, says the kiosks will be invaluable for customers living in remote locations in particular.

Steve Murrells, chief executive of the Co-operative Retail division said: “We are improving the shopping experience for our customers and members in thousands of locations, but until now that meant us having to temporarily cease trading.

“These pop-up kiosks are mobile but they are so well ergonomically designed they can provide an excellent shopping experience for communities, which otherwise may be without conveneice store shopping while we improve a store. Our vision is to provide an almost seamless shopping experience..

“Our members love the new store format and the improvements to the food range we have made since the beginning of the year, but they can be frustrated with temporary store closures during re-fits: this resolves that issue.”

Director of Estates Dave Roberts told TheBusinessDesk: “Where we can put in a kiosk, we will – but in some high street locations we won’t be able to. We have a nationwide coverage and the refits are taking place from Cornwall to the Scottish islands and we feel customers will apprecaite the continuity of service – particularly if you’re in a location where the nearest other shop is 25km away.”