Co-operative invests £550,000 in Alderley Edge

The Co-operative is investing £550,000 in Alderley Edge to convert and transform the Somerfield store on London Road which will secure the existing 33 jobs.

The conversion follows The Co-operative Group’s £1.56 billion acquisition of the Somerfield supermarket chain and is part of a two-year rebranding programme which will see all the Somerfield branches convert to Co-operatives and feature The Group’s new brand identity.

The finished new look of the Alderley Edge store will be revealed at 7am on Friday 11th December followed at 10am by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, performed by children from Alderley Edge Community Primary School who will receive a donation of £200 for their school funds.

There will also be lots of in-store activity on launch day, including product tastings and giveaways, while on Saturday, Santa Claus will make a special appearance along with Silk FM.

Store manager Rachel Stanway said: “We are proud to serve the local community and this substantial investment in the store means we can now provide a much enhanced service. I am sure customers will welcome the changes and the benefits shopping at The Co-operative brings. We will meet all the community’s daily food shopping needs and, in the best traditions of The Co-operative, make our contribution to community life.”

As well as its smart new look and more spacious, shopper friendly layout, the store will benefit from increased visibility from the main road as the front windows are opened up, and integral as well as remote new freezers.

The store will feature enhanced and new product ranges, with an emphasis on fresh foods, including the extensive Fairtrade range, as well as its Healthy Living, Simply Value and premium Truly Irresistible ranges.

There will also be substantial savings offered on at least five fresh fruit and veg products every month to encourage customers to eat their ‘five a day’ and The Co-operative Bakery will offer a selection of in-store baked breads and pastries, free from hydrogenated fat.

Shoppers can benefit from The Co-operative’s share of profits dividend scheme, which twice a year offers customer members cash back on their trade with the Group’s businesses. Members can choose to keep the cash or donate all or part of their share to local good causes. Last year, The Co-operative paid out more than £37 million to members and over £1 million to local community groups.

Membership of The Co-operative Group, which costs just £1, offers a range of benefits including a say in how stores are run and the opportunity to support The Co-operative’s campaigns on issues such as climate change and social inclusion.