MANCHESTER, England, 2016-Jul-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Co-op Group has today agreed the sale of 298 of its smaller Food stores as part of its strategy of refocusing its store estate on a convenience, own-brand led shopping experience.
The sale of the stores, which are 1,700 sq ft on average to McColl’s Retail Group plc (McColl’s) for £117m, is subject to approval from the CMA and McColl’s shareholders. All stores will continue to trade immediately after handover (expected from November 2016) and all colleagues will TUPE transfer to McColl’s.
Co-op Food has a clearly defined food strategy, focused on delivering a compelling and convenient shopping experience to millions of customers and members every day. The strategy, which saw the Co-op deliver like-for-like sales growth in its convenience estate of 4% in the year to April, will be further strengthened from this autumn when the Co-op’s new member offer goes live, rewarding Co-op members for the own-brand trade.
The sale proceeds will be re-invested to further deliver the Co-op’s strategy, which over the past 12 months has seen the Co-op become the most frequently visited food retailer in the UK. In the last two years The Co-op has opened close to 200 new stores and in 2016 is actively pursuing 100 new store acquisitions.
Steve Murrells, CEO of Co-op Food, said:
“The Co-op Food business continues to move forward with a clear momentum and purpose to deliver a compelling and convenient shopping experience for our millions of customers and members. “Today’s announcement is completely in line with our strategy, as these stores did not allow us to provide a sufficiently compelling own-brand offer for our members going forwards. The proceeds will be re-invested to drive sustainable growth for our members and I’m delighted that all 3,808 colleagues will transfer to McColl’s on the same terms and conditions.”
List of Co-op stores to be sold to McColl’s Retail Group plc (PDF)
Note to editors
About The Co-op Group:
The Co-op Group, one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives, with interests across food, funerals, insurance, electrical 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 colleagues and an annual turnover of approximately £10 billion.
New Membership benefits
A percentage (currently 5%) of the amount a member spends on Co-op own brand products and services will be credited to the member’s account and can be used as a discount against products and/or services when they trade with us in the future; and a percentage (currently 1%) of the amount a member spends on Co-op own brand products and services will be awarded to the member’s account for them to donate to a good cause of their choosing from a selection being supported by Co-op.
*Colleagues within a Co-op community will initially select three local charities for members to support with their 1% community benefit for a period of six months. After this Co-op members will be able to put forward charities and causes from their communities which they believe will benefit the local community. This will result in thousands of local causes benefitting.
Media Enquiries:
The Co-operative Group:
Russ Brady
07880 784442
Craig Brownsell
07843 648467
Tulchan Communications:
Susanna Voyle
07980 894 557
Jonathan Sibun
07779 999 683
Source: Coop