Co-op to create 250 Yorkshire jobs with £15m investment
The Co-op is set to open 10 new food stores and carry out extensions or major upgrades for a further 11 sites in a £15m investment programme across Yorkshire region during 2018.
The retailer expects to recruit around 250 staff as part of the plans.
Planned new stores include sites in York; Harrogate and Northowram, overhauls for petrol filling stations in Ingleton and Mytholmroyd and, with extensions or improvements scheduled for existing stores including those in Thirsk, Helmsley and Sheffield.
The news comes a month after the Co-op unveiled a £50m price investment programme to cut the cost of everyday essentials including fruit, vegetables, bread, fresh meat and ready meals, as well as household brand names.
John McNeill, the Co-op’s divisional managing director, 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.We’re delighted to be making such a significant investment in the region again in 2018, investing in our people, stores, products, prices and communities with over 20 new or improved stores this year.”
The Co-op’s expansion in Yorkshire forms part of its UK-wide plans to open 100 new stores in 2018.
