Co-op set to make major change in 2,300 UK stores
Co-op has announced major improvements for customers over the next 12 months.
The Co-op has announced a major investment as customers are set to notice some price changes in its 2,300 UK stores over the next 12 months. The supermarket, which is the sixth-largest in the UK by number of stores, has pledged to make several moves to help customers through the current cost-of-living crisis. Its £1bn “Back Britain” plan comes after the Budget announcement, and will see prices slashed for both members and non-members across the country.
Prices will be slashed on more than 1,000 products in Co-op’s 2,300 stores nationwide over the next 12 months. Co-op has also pledged to British sourcing, community-led retailing, and skills development. The company says the move reinforces its “belief that responsible business must play its part in tackling the cost-of-living crisis”. A survey by Co-op revealed that 58% of participants list the cost-of-living crisis as one of their top three concerns. This figure is up from 51% in late 2024.
Shirine Khoury-Haq, Co-op Group CEO, said that its commitment to “facilitating over £1 billion of spend into the UK economy over the next year” sees its “biggest ever number of price reductions to help with the cost of living, continued investment in British farmers and suppliers, and a focus on keeping high streets vibrant and safe.”
The £1bn investment will have a focus on categories that support British farming, produce, protein and dairy. Co-op’s investment will “extend lower prices beyond just Co-op members”, in a bid to support “the 15 million weekly transactions that occur in Co-op shops and to help families manage weekly budgets”.
Co-op also pledged to spend more than £700m a year with British farmers and agriculture suppliers, maintaining its 100% British fresh and frozen meat commitment across all own-brand products.
The supermarket said it will invest in another 100 stores over the next 12 months, including new openings and revamps to existing stores. Recently, Co-op announced that it was opening a record number of stores in the space of seven days as part of its growth plans.
It has also pledged a £38m annual spend on crime prevention measures, including body cameras for workers and extra security staff.
Additionally, Co-op has set a target of creating 7,000 matched apprenticeships by 2030 through its Levy Share service. It already spends £1 million a year on its 38 Co-op Academies.
