The Co-operative Group is to open a convenience store in Manchester, its first in its home town.
The 3,000sq ft outlet will be based in The Co-operative Bank's headquarters in Balloon Street, near the group's New Century House HQ and next to the Printworks retail and leisure complex. It will open in May using the group's
new brand identity, The Co-operative.

"The Balloon Street premises provides an ideal location from which to showcase our improved food products and services," said Guy McCracken, chief executive for food retail. "We will revitalise the product range for the launch so that local customers and colleagues in the Manchester complex can benefit from the new store."
The group's wholesale background meant it had previously chosen not to open in the city. A spokeswoman added that it would consider further stores once it had studied the first shop's performance.