Month: September 2021

Co-op has served-up its newest food store (Friday, 10 September) following a £500,800 investment creating 15 new local jobs and supporting five existing roles in Herne Bay.

The near 3,000 sq ft convenience store, located on Braid Drive, runs on 100% renewable electricity and includes click and collect through Co-op’s own online shop, coop.co.uk/shop.

Co-op’s new store also includes: customer car parking, bakery and Co-op’s own brand Everground coffee, via Fairtrade coffee dispenser, alongside a focus on fresh, healthy products, meal ideas, award winning wines, ready meals and pizzas, free-from, vegan and plant-based products  and, everyday essentials.

A funding boost is also provided locally through Co-op’s Membership programme. Membership of the Co-op unlocks additional value through in-store offers, and sees Members rewarded with 2p in every pound they spend on Co-op branded products which is added to their own personal Membership account balance. The Co-op also donates the same amount to local causes.

Students in the area who are TOTUM cardholders – the new name for NUS extra – receive a 10% discount at the Co-op. The Co-op store is located at Herne Bay’s Eddington Park development – a collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments and three bedroom houses.

Luke Arnold, Co-op Store Manager, said: “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to carry out such a significant investment in Eddington, and to open Co-op’s newest store! We are really looking forward to serving the community. We have worked to develop the range, choice, products and services locally to create a really compelling offer to serve our community.” Paul Hoskins, Co-op Area Manager, added: “Co-op is committed to connecting communities and making a difference locally, and our aim is to operate at the heart of local life. We also want customers to know that they can become a Member of the Co-op. In addition to unlocking additional value and personalised offers for themselves, our Members help to make a difference to local causes – Co-op donates 2p in every pound to community causes when Members swipe their Membership card when buying own-branded products – so by shopping at the Co-op our Members are also helping to make good things happen in the community.”

Luke Mullaney, Development Surveyor at Quinn Estates, said: “We were delighted to attend the ribbon cutting for the new Co-op store at our Eddington Park project in Herne Bay. The development not only seeks to deliver quality homes, but create a strong sense of community. The opening of this new Co-op store aligns with this to create jobs and support local charities, as well as providing retail facilities for residents.”

The store also includes a new recycle unit for ‘soft’ plastics. Co-op has announced the launch of Europe’s most extensive in-store recycling scheme for plastic bags and food product wrapping. The initiative ensures all Co-op’s own food packing is easy-to-recycle either via kerbside collection at home, or by establishing this accessible disposal route for materials which are unlikely to be collected by UK councils, including: crisp packets, bread bags, single-use carrier bags and bags-for-life, lids from ready meals and yogurt pots, biscuit wrappers and pet-food pouches.

Co-op has around 4.6M active Members, and alongside Food, it operates: Co-op Funeralcare, Insurance and Legal Services. More information about the benefits of Co-op Membership is available by visiting https://www.coop.co.uk/membership

11th September 2021 – it’s Pride Canterbury and we are delighted to be sponsoring and supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

Pride Canterbury is a spectacular celebration of LGBTQ+ identity for the whole family set in the heart of Canterbury. Featuring a parade through Canterbury High Street, followed by live entertainment with food and drink in the Dane John Gardens. Join 25,000 other people to come together to celebrate diversity, equality and progress.