Cardiff, UK, 2015-4-2 — /EPR Retail News/ — Two Co-operative food stores have re-opened in Cardiff this week (26 and 27 March 2015) as part of an investment programme in excess of £3M designed to transform the shopping experience for communities in and around the city during 2015.
Improvements are in-store at The Co-operative Food in Cyncoed Road and Caerphilly Road, Cardiff, following major makeovers to redefine the stores and create an enhanced in-store bakery range, and a focus on fresh, healthy foods and essentials. Both stores benefit from an improved layout, and new refrigeration to increase the range of chilled, dairy and meat produce.
The stores are pioneering a new role, known as a Community Pioneer, where a member of the food store team – Sharon Evans at Caerphilly Road and, Mia Humphries at Cyncoed Road – who will also work to foster involvement and participation in community activities, from local fundraising initiatives to helping to understand and develop solutions to meet community needs. The initial focus of in-store fundraising at The Co-operative’s Cardiff food stores is Cardiff Pedal Power, a charity which encourages and enables children and adults of all ages and abilities to experience the benefits of cycling.
The investment follows the re-launch of The Co-operative’s Fairwater food store which re-opened following a near £370,000 makeover last month.
Guest of honour at the re-opening of The Co-operative’s Cyncoed Road store, Sybil Williams MBE, Director of Cardiff Pedal Power, said:
“The Co-operative’s new-look food store and its focus on fresh and healthy produce is a great asset for the community, and I am delighted to take part in its re-opening.
“Many of us fail to get the exercise and regular physical activity that we need, and it can be much harder to exercise if you are disabled and equipment and facilities are not geared to those needs – teaming up with a community retailer like The Co-operative in Cardiff is a great boost to our charity, helping to raise awareness and money needed to support our work.”
Andrew Jenkins, Area Manager for The Co-operative Food in the Cardiff area, said:
“We are thrilled to be making such a significant investment in our Cardiff stores, and delighted that we have these fantastic new-look food stores with which to serve the community – it is an exciting time for the whole team.
“The Co-operative is a community retailer, and we are committed to playing an active role in local life, embracing the area’s community spirit. The stores will be a hub for the local community, and customers will be able to find out what is going on locally, and learn about how The Co-operative can benefit local groups.
“With the combination of our redefined stores, innovations in our own-brand ‘Loved by us’ range, and The Co-operative’s commitment to lowering prices on hundreds of everyday essentials, I am confident we will provide the community with everything needed to pick-up delicious food conveniently and create inspirational and tasty meals at home.”
There are offers and promotions in and around the stores to mark their re-launch.
Notes to Editors:
• The Co-operative food store Cyncoed Road, Cardiff, CF23 6RZ, re-opens on Thursday, 26 March, 2015
• The Co-operative food store Caerphilly Road, Cardiff, CF14 4QD re-opens on Friday, 27 March 2015
The Co-operative Group, which is the UK’s largest co-operative business with interests across food, funerals, insurance and legal services, has a clear purpose of “championing a better way of doing business for you and your communities”. Owned by millions of UK consumers, The Co-operative Group operates a total of 3,750 outlets, with more than 70,000 employees and an annual turnover of approximately £11 billion.
For further information please contact:
Andrew Torr
The Co-operative Group Press Office
Tel: 07702 505551
Email: andrew.torr@co-operative.coop
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