Central England Co-op has launched its new store in Lichfield, Staffordshire, creating 11 new jobs and making another major investment in the cathedral city.
The Society today officially opened its store at Fosseway Gate, part of the new Birmingham Road development in the city, offering locals food and essentials on their doorstep, with young charity hero Sebbie Hall helping to cut the ribbon.
The community food store offers shoppers an expansive range of products and features such as self-service checkouts, an extensive food to go section including hot food, Insomnia Coffee, Tango Ice Blast and F’real Milkshakes, a free water refill station, a customer car park and customer toilets with baby changing facilities.
The modern, spacious store also features special eco-friendly fridges and LED lighting, as well as a lifesaving defibrillator and outdoor seating.
Central England Co-op has its headquarters in Eastern Avenue in the city and now has three food stores in Lichfield with the launch of Fosseway Gate, which follows major investments in both its Curborough Road and Boley Park stores over the last two years.
Store Manager Lindsey Kearney said, “It’s great to have finally opened our doors to the local community in Lichfield and to be part of the new development in Birmingham Road which we look forward to seeing grow in the coming months and welcoming our new neighbours.
“All of us here at the new store are proud to be part of such a great community in Lichfield so we are delighted to be able to support Lichfield Food Bank which is offering a lifeline to vulnerable residents and people struggling in these testing times.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank local residents for their patience as work on the store has progressed. It’s been long-awaited, but hopefully everyone will enjoy the store as much as we do.”
The store is now open from 7am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday and it offers fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled beers and wines, fresh and frozen product, fresh pastries and bread from the ins-store bakery and Co-op Irresistible and Fairtrade product ranges.