Independent co-operative society, OurCoop, has opened four new FoodCoop stores since it formed in January, backed by £9.3m of investment, bringing modern, community-focused shopping spaces to regions across the UK, while also providing local employment opportunities.
The newly launched stores “strengthen OurCoop’s presence across key catchments,” it said, with four FoodCoop locations opened across Leicestershire (Desford), Buckinghamshire (Wavendon), Gloucestershire (Leckhampton) and Merseyside (Rainhill).
The openings represent a continued focus on “developing a modern, community-led convenience format, combining strong fresh and local ranges with an in-store experience tailored to neighbourhood needs,” it added.
Each FoodCoop store includes solar panels, bird boxes, EV charging stations, community gardens and bike maintenance stations, alongside local partnerships from the outset. Each opening has been marked with a ribbon cutting by prominent local figures, including local Parish members, school children and heads of local charities and organisations.
The rollout has also supported local economies, creating more than 50 jobs across the six locations and establishing new retail hubs designed to drive footfall and repeat visits.
Debbie Robinson, chief executive officer at OurCoop, said: “As a co-operative business, making a positive difference is at the heart of how we operate.
”Our scale and breadth mean we can support our members every day and throughout life’s big moments, generating greater value through our businesses and reinvesting for the long-term.
“That’s the power of co-operation, a system where participation creates benefit and the more Members participate and trade with us, the greater the impact we can have together.
”The opening of these new stores will only support this further, deepening our roots in our local towns and villages for years to come.”
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