Central England Co-op outlines multi-million pound investment project in Yorkshire

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 08/02/2018


Central England Co-op has outlined plans to open over 10 new stores and funeral homes and revamp dozens more as part of an ambitious investment plan throughout 2018 – including at least two in Yorkshire.

The Society is expected to create hundreds of jobs as part of the multi-million project which will see new sites launched across its trading estate of 16 counties.

New food stores and funeral homes are currently planned for Birmingham, Peterborough, Yorkshire, Derby, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Suffolk, and Nottingham.

In Yorkshire, plans are in place for new food stores in Keresforth Hill Road, Barnsley, and Barnsley Road, South Kirkby, in a move which will see around £1 million invested in the area and up to 40 new jobs created.

Last year, Central England Co-op opened four brand new food stores – including one in High Street, Dodworth - and revamped another in Yorkshire – creating dozens of jobs and spending £1,720,000 in the process.

A further 10 stores and 20 funeral homes across a wide range of towns and cities will also be given a major makeover as part of the plans.

Martyn Cheatle, Chief Executive of Central England Co-op, said: “We are really proud of the success of our food business, especially with our continued good performance in what is a highly competitive and increasingly uncertain trading environment.

“We want to continue with that success and this is why we are committed to an ambitious growth and investment strategy during the next 12 months.
“We are now in the process of getting ready to open and revamp dozens of food stores and funeral homes and we cannot wait to welcome colleagues, members and shoppers, both old and new, into them for the first time during 2018.”

The new and revamped sites will feature upgraded fixtures and fittings including the latest in pioneering new energy efficient refrigeration technologies to minimise environmental impact and LED lighting.

The opening of all new food stores will be celebrated with a special golden ticket giveaway, where 50 lucky shoppers will be able to win everything from a big screen television to hundreds of pounds in vouchers.

Customers and members will be able to enjoy everything from everyday necessities to something a little more special as a result alongside a range of community benefits.

This includes the Community Dividend Fund which last year saw 122 groups share over £200,000 to pay for everything from defibrillators to vital school equipment.

News of this investment comes after, in 2017, the Society opened eight new food stores and five new funeral homes as well as relaunching over 15 funeral sites and over 20 convenience stores.

This major development programme resulted in an investment of over £15 million, creating dozens of new jobs.

Central England Co-op can keep up to date with new store and funeral homes opening by visiting https://www.centralengland.coop/

Notes to editors

About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. 

 

It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, and property investment.

 

Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2018.

 

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

 

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

 

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative

 

Rob Smyth / Heather Clapton at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140

 

Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop