Co-op has signed a new concession deal with Churchill Catering to revamp and relaunch 10 coffee shops within its convenience store portfolio.
Operating under the new brand name ‘& Coffee’, the shops will be redesigned to act as a community hub, stocking locally produced products. The shops will also offer tailored food menus for breakfast and lunch.
The first Coffee Shop will be at the Ridgeway store in August, and the rollout programme will continue to the end of October.
Mark Pettigrew, Director of Innovation & Format at Co-op, said, “We want the coffee shops to be a place for the community to meet and enjoy a range of quality drinks and snacks, all under the new ‘& Coffee’ banner. We’re really excited to be partnering with an expert in this field and to be able to offer our customers new reasons to visit us as we deliver a great new coffee experience.”
Ian Surtees, Chief Executive Officer at Vertas Group, said, “Securing this contract with Co-op is a huge accolade for us, putting us firmly on the map as a nationwide partner in the retail catering sector. It’s a result of a lot of teamwork, being transparent and open from day one and the track record Churchill Catering has in running these types of contracts.
“Co-op is one Great Britain’s most trusted brands so it’s a wonderful honour to play our part in that success continuing. We are looking forward to working side by side with the in-store managers to create community hubs that provide more than just a great cup of coffee.”
The coffee shops being revamped and refitted are in stores in Heathfield, Holmfirth, Hove, Inverness, Louth, Peacehaven, Ridgeway, Ryde, Wadebridge, and Wickford.