Co-op store opens to the public following relocation

A brand-new Co-op store in Derbyshire Lane, Sheffield, has opened its doors.

The project, developed and managed by Sheffield-based property company Ackroyd & Abbott, has seen the former Co-op store at 260 Derbyshire Lane relocated and upgraded to a more modern, larger store at 229 Derbyshire Lane.

With an increase in local demand, there was a need for a bigger store.

Gemma Swallow, store manager at the new Derbyshire Lane Co-op, said she was sure the premises will become a key focal point of the local community:

“I’ve been at Co-op 19 years and am absolutely delighted to be coming in to manage the new store,” she added.

The store features a customer shopping area of 2,690 sq ft and boasts wide aisles and a large, fully accessible entrance way.

Swallow continued: “The old store on Derbyshire Lane was unfortunately no longer fit for purpose. It was small and dark, and people with mobility issues or parents with pushchairs, really struggled to get up and down the aisles.

“Our new store allows us to put the local community first. As well as being more accessible, we can offer a more rounded experience to everyone.

“Our offer has almost tripled. We now have a takeaway Costa coffee service, a dedicated bakery section and can also stock the special seasonal ranges – such as Christmas food and drink. We simply didn’t have the room to accommodate these last year.”

In addition to retaining the existing staff members from the former store, Co-op has taken on an addition eight staff members, several of which are from the local area.

Off-road parking has been increased from nine spaces to 14, helping to accommodate more visitors and stop cars blocking the road. There will also be a cycle store.

The contemporary building unit is run on 100% renewable electricity.

Tom Rusling, director of Ackroyd & Abbott, the developer and manager of the project, said: “This has been a fantastic project to be involved in. The new store made the Derbyshire Lane location viable for the Co-op for the long term – retaining an important community asset and creating new jobs.

“With a school and retirement home in the immediate vicinity, we understood the importance of making a more accessible and welcoming shopping experience.

“Therefore, it’s been extremely rewarding to see the local community using and enjoying the store since its opening last week. The feedback has been great.

“Ackroyd & Abbott is a family-run company. In addition to our work in Yorkshire, we are always on the lookout for freehold residential, commercial and retail sites in the Midlands and beyond.

“We truly believe that our projects make a positive and lasting contribution to the local economy and the communities in which they are located.”