Co-op Unveils First Franchise Store in Wales
Co-op is set to reveal its inaugural franchise store in Wales this Thursday, January 18, catering to the needs of the Parc Derwen community in Bridgend.
The convenience retailer is dedicated to expanding its successful franchise business, offering partners the unique opportunity to receive comprehensive support, knowledge, training, and technical expertise needed to own and operate a Co-op convenience store.
The 2,700-square-foot Parc Derwen store, open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., has generated 16 local job opportunities. It features an in-store bakery, Costa Coffee, and a focus on fresh, healthy products, meal ideas, everyday essentials, food-to-go, Fairtrade products, chilled beers, award-winning wines, ready meals, pizzas, and free-from, vegan, and plant-based products.
With customer parking available, the store plans to introduce online grocery delivery through Deliveroo, offering quick and convenient local delivery of freshly picked groceries along with parcel collection services.
To promote sustainability, the store includes a soft plastic recycling unit for the community to recycle items like crisp packets, bread bags, lids from ready meals, yogurt pots, biscuit wrappers, and pet food pouches. Co-op ensures all its own food packaging is recyclable through local authority curbside collections or in-store soft plastic recycling.
Martin Rogers, Director of Partnership Development at Co-op, expressed excitement about the first franchise store in Wales, emphasizing the growth of their franchise operation in collaboration with partners who share their values.
Suresh Edirimuni, Parc Derwen Store Manager, stated, “We are delighted to serve and support the Parc Derwen community, and we look forward to welcoming member-owners and customers into their new co-op. Our aim is to operate at the heart of local life, offering a compelling range of choices and services to support our community conveniently.”
Co-op, one of the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operatives, emphasizes its Members’ ownership, active role in governance, and various benefits, including member-only pricing and personalized offers through the Co-op Membership app