Stornoway’s MacAulay Road Co-op re-launched today (Friday, 17 November) following a multi-million pound makeover to transform the store.
The near 22,000 sq ft store – which supports over 100 local jobs – is the largest in The Co-op Group’s estate and has a focus on serving and supporting the Island community.
The extensive programme of works and improvements commenced in August, and Co-op’s new-look Stornoway store includes a fresh new-look for chilled produce, fruit, vegetables and dairy. The café, a popular community hub, has been transformed and modernised. Plus, two new Costa coffee dispensers and, a fresh orange juice machine – which has been described as ‘an instant hit with customers’ – have been installed.
This sits alongside an enhanced focus on fresh, healthy products; meal ideas; everyday essentials; food-to-go; Fairtrade products, chilled beers and award winning wines; ready meals, pizzas and, free-from; vegan and plant-based products.
Stornoway-based Stag bakeries have opened an over-counter range of hot food, pies and pastries. The store is also home to independent travel agent Hebrides Travel, a travel exchange bureau and, The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) which offers discounts on big-name brands.
A new laundry service is also available with a Revolution Laundromat located outside the store for washing and drying all types of laundry.
At the back of store, new larger and more efficient cold rooms and storage will further improve operational capacity, availability and resilience – particularly during the winter months when adverse weather can effect ferry crossings.
New refrigeration throughout the store now includes a heat recovery system to warm the store by recycling the heat generated by the system.
Online home delivery groceries is now available across the Island through Co-op’s own online shop – shop.coop.co.uk – with products picked fresh in the store and delivered to homes quickly and conveniently through its fleet of five home delivery vehicles.
Steven Cooper, Co-op’s Stornoway Store Manager, said: “We have had a great response, and are delighted to have had the opportunity to carry out such a significant investment to transform the store. Our aim is to operate at the heart of local life – and, we are very proud to serve and support the Island community. We have worked to create the range, choice and added services to deliver a really compelling offer for customers, with a focus on delivering member-value so that the people who own our business, our members, benefit every time they shop.”
Last month, Co-op also relaunched its Sollas, North Uist, store following an extensive programme of works and improvements to transform the 1,500 sq ft Island store.
In August, Co-op announced its biggest ever single investment in pricing of £70 million, as it extended its ‘member-only’ pricing across everyday essentials. Launching the price investment with a list of nearly 200 fixed lines including milk, eggs and bread, with a Co-op sliced loaf priced at just 76p.
Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operatives. Its Members own the business and play an intrinsic part in the governance of the organisation, and enjoy a wide number of benefits including member-only pricing across everyday essentials, money back on own-brand purchases and personalised offers via the Co-op Membership app.
More information about the benefits of Co-op Membership is available by visiting https://www.coop.co.uk/membership
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