New Co-op opens to serve the community in Eddington, Herne Bay

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