Co-op aims to strengthen its presence in British local communities with the opening and renovation of 24 stores in the second quarter of 2026. The cooperative retail group has announced that it will launch new stores and reopen fully renovated ones by the end of June, confirming the centrality of small, local stores in its development model.
The move follows the 18 openings completed in the first quarter of the year and will bring the total number of new stores opened or renovated in the first half of the year to over 40. The new initiatives will affect numerous areas of the United Kingdom, from the Scottish Highlands to the south coast of England, involving towns, villages and urban districts in regions such as Cumbria, Gloucestershire, Kent, the Midlands, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.
According to Co-op, the goal is to support Britain's high streets and strengthen the role of neighborhood shops as true focal points for local communities. The strategy aims to transform stores into multifunctional hubs, capable of integrating additional services beyond traditional retail operations.
In addition to food, the stores offer coffee services, payments, package pickup, and quick commerce, i.e., the rapid delivery of online groceries. A growing portion of the network is also used as a micro-logistics hub for the group's food e-commerce business.
Co-op explained that approximately 90% of the UK population can now access online grocery shopping through its proprietary platform and partnerships with operators such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat. Orders are prepared directly in local stores, a model the company believes also supports traffic and sales at brick-and-mortar stores.
Particular attention is also paid to franchising development. After closing 2025 with 65 active franchise stores, Co-op expects to exceed 100 by the end of 2026. The new openings will primarily be on university campuses, hospitals, and service stations.
Kate McCrae, Co-op Retail Director, stressed that “local shops are an anchor at the heart of communities” and explained that the investment plan aims to create stores that are “more than just a shop”, capable of meeting the everyday needs of consumers.
At the same time, the retailer continues to develop sustainability initiatives. A collection service is available at stores for soft plastics that are difficult to recycle through traditional household systems, such as snack packaging, cookie wrappers, and pet food bags.
On the sourcing front, the Co-op also reaffirmed its support for British agriculture, highlighting that all its own-brand fresh and frozen meat, including its ready meals and sandwiches, is 100% British. Founded over 180 years ago, the Co-op is now one of the largest consumer cooperatives in the world, with over seven million member-owners.
