Co-op invests £450k in boosting its stores and funeral homes in Burton and S Derbys
Posted by rob smyth | Published: 17/07/2018
Central England Co-operative has revealed it has invested over £450,000 so far this year as part of ongoing efforts to improve the experience of customers across Burton and South Derbyshire
This has been used to pay for two Food store revamps and a major overhaul at Bretby Crematorium – securing dozens of jobs and investing £457,000 in the process.
Members and customers queued around the block to take a closer look at revamped Food Stores in Winshill and Barton following a range of improvements to improve the sites for shoppers.
Church Hill Street Co-operative Store Manager Charlotte Middleton said: “Our team were so excited to finally allow our members and customers to see our store. It looks fantastic and customers have been making many positive comments about how it looks and the different products and services now available.”
As a result of the near quarter of a million pound investment made in Bretby Crematorium, improvements have included state-of-the-art audio and visual technology being installed in both chapels, which will include the ability to broadcast services over the internet.
Both chapels have also been redecorated and waiting rooms now have new carpets, furniture and lighting.
Visitor amenities have also been upgraded and the reception area and family room have been given a makeover.
Crematorium Manager Nick French said: “We feel the improvements reflect our commitment to providing excellent standards of care for our families during their time of bereavement and also showcase how we can help people say goodbye to their loved ones in a way that is personal to them.
“Bretby Crematorium provides a peaceful haven for quiet contemplation and remembrance and all of these improvements will ensure that our families can come together to say goodbye in the very best surroundings.”
The work in Burton and South Derbyshire is part of an ambitious Food Store and Funeral Home development programme for 2018, with further investment planned in the area throughout 2018 and into 2019.
Several sites are set to receive a further cash injection for improvements in the coming months including Overseal Food Store. Nearby Ashby will also be getting a boost with a new Food Store planned for later in the year.
Customers and members will also be able to enjoy a range of community benefits as a result of the Society’s investment in Burton and South Derbyshire.
Last year, thousands of pounds were handed out to groups in the county from Central England Co-operative’s Community Dividend Fund. A total of seven groups and charities shared over £14,000.
The fund guarantees that at least one per cent of the Society’s trading profit is reinvested in local communities in a bid to help projects to thrive across its trading area.
Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time they spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund.
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 caption: Colleagues from Central England Co-op’s Winshill Food Store were all smiles on launch day.
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, travel shops, 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