Co-op continues to make an impact in Birmingham - one year after creating 20 jobs and investing £1.7m

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 22/05/2018


Central England Co-operative continues to make a major impact in Chelmsley Wood one year after investing over £1.7 million and creating 20 new jobs.

The new Food Store and Funeral Home, both based in Chester Road, have now been open for 12 months and have been a big hit with customers and members in the area.

Chelmsley Wood Central England Co-operative Store Manager Nicky Collins said: “We have had a fantastic 12 months since we have opened and feel like we are an integral part of the community.

“The shop continues to go from strength to strength and we regularly get many positive comments about how it looks and the different products and services now available.

“All of us here at Chelmsley Wood store are proud to be part of such a great community and look forward to continuing to welcome customers – old and new – to our store.”

The store offers a wide range of products and services to meet the needs of local residents and also includes the latest in pioneering new energy efficient refrigeration technologies to minimise environmental impact, LED lighting and a lifesaving defibrillator.

The success of the Food Store and the Funeral Home has also resulted in further benefits for dozens of groups and good causes in the area.

Over £10,000 has been shared between vital project thanks to the retailer’s Community Dividend Fund.

A total of £2,500 will be used by the Birmingham Youth Empowerment Project to buy musical instruments as part of one of its successful projects.

West Heath Community Association will use £1,500 items as part of a major kitchen revamp. This will allow the group to open a community café in the near future.

Youngsters at Tyburn Amateur Boxing Club have been handed £680 to pay for new headgear and skipping ropes to ensure that they stay safe while learning a new skill and keeping fit and healthy.

A total of £1,000 will be used by Vision Care for Homeless People to help provide eye tests and glasses for vulnerable people.

Nicky added: “Great schemes like the Community Dividend Fund showcase that when members visit our stores their money is invested to support the local community.

“The fund guarantees that at least one per cent of the Society’s trading profit is reinvested in local communities with projects like the Birmingham Youth Empowerment Project.

“This simply means that the loyalty of our customers when they shop with us results in backing for vital projects that are local and mean something to them.”

The Chelmsley Wood Co-operative food store is open from 7am – 10pm every day. The store offers a wide range of products from everyday necessities to something a little more special. The store offer includes fresh fruit and vegetables, an in-store bakery offering breads and pastries, chilled beers and wines, fresh and frozen product, Irresistible product ranges, Bake and Bite and a great selection of food to go.

The store also offers; Paypoint, Coffee Nation, Collect Plus, foreign currency, a free car park and a free cash machine.

The Funeral Home offers a 24-hour service, seven days a week.  In addition to arranging funerals, the team are also able to offer advice on floral tributes, monumental masonry, funeral stationery, pre-paid funeral plans and probate advice.  The team can be contacted on 0121 7882621.

Senior Funeral Director Kiran Bhogal said: “We are enjoying being part of such a growing community and have made some great links during the past 12 months.

“We are proud to be able to serve the families of Chelmsley Wood whenever they need our help.”

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

 

 

Notes to editors

 

Picture reference: Staff from the Chelmsley Wood Food Store with store manager Nicky Collins are celebrating a year of success.

 

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