UK retailer The Co-operative is set to open five new stores in Scotland over the next month, following an investment of £3.4 million.
The launches are part of the retailer's £11 million store expansion plan for 2017, and will create 75 new jobs.
“It’s a very exciting time for the Co-op in Scotland as we gear up to open not one, but five, brand new Co-ops over the next five weeks," said John McNeill, Co-op's divisional managing director.
“Our new store launches, together with our ever growing range of locally-sourced Scottish produce and increasing member numbers, put us in a strong position as we look towards further expansion in 2018.”
The new stores will be located in Renfrew, Cadross, Doune, Oldmeldrum and Stirling.
Expansion Plans
The Co-op opened more than 100 stores in the UK last year, and is aiming to open a similar number this year.
In Scotland, the retailer plans to open a new 12,000 square foot distribution centre at Inverness Airport Business Park in 2018.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, the group made a £137.5 million formal offer to acquire Nisa, which operates a network of member-owned convenience stores across the country.
If the deal is accepted, the Co-op says that it plans to retain Nisa as a standalone business and brand, including its 1,190 members and 3,200 stores.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
