Discover the power of partnership with the Co-op franchise

Co-op is looking for franchisees to join its unique proposition and share in the company’s continued success

Co-op knows food retail. With more than 2,500 food stores, it operates the most diverse store portfolio of any retailer and is one of the UK’s best-loved brands and the most visited convenience retailer.

Seven years of like-for-like growth has seen the company outperform the market and pick up a raft of industry awards along the way. Now, Co-op wants entrepreneurs and retailers with high-quality convenience stores to join us in this unique proposition and share in its continued success.

Instantly recognisable

Co-op is the only retailer to license its master brand to franchisees and access to an award-winning convenience store model. They give its partners access to its full retail operating systems and the opportunity to run a store that is instantly recognisable as one of the most iconic retail brands.

With a strong track record in delivering quality products for its customers the retailer knows that, when people work together to achieve a common purpose, great things can happen.

Co-op does amazing things, things that make a difference at home and abroad, and the team is focused on generating mutual value with like-minded partners who share the Co-op values and principles to share in this success and grow together.

The quality, convenience and ethical values of Co-op are resonating more strongly than ever, with a growing proportion of the population concerned with the impact of their choices on the environment and people in the supply chain. Co-op’s way of doing business makes it the obvious choice for today’s ethically minded consumers.

Nationwide business

Currently operating more than 30 stores, with 42 stores planned by the end of 2021, Co-op Franchise is a nationwide business, with stores up and down the country, in a variety of location types, including petrol stations, service stations, neighbourhood, urban convenience, campus and rural supermarket, and is a critical part of the retailer’s strategy to reach more customers in new locations.

Co-op Franchise is a full-service model and operates using all the same technology, processes and procedures as Co-op company stores. This includes support every step of the way from the plan, design, build and launch of the store, through to extensive training and ongoing support, bringing together the insight from the company’s owned estate and its partners’ local knowledge.

A franchisee will benefit from Co-op category knowledge, trend analysis and supplier insight to create ranges that deliver to suit customers’ needs, with Co-op’s award-winning own-brand products alongside the leading UK brands that your customers know, love and trust.

Leading technology

Co-op Franchise stores use the same leading technology as company-owned stores and have access to 24/7 IT support desk.

Like all Co-op stores, franchise stores operate a sophisticated auto-replenishment system and are serviced through the Co-op logistics network with industry-leading availability and delivery accuracy.

This is all in addition to a full Co-op launch and ongoing marketing package, dedicated account management, as well as extensive training and ongoing operational support.

The breadth and flexibility of Co-op Franchise makes it well suited to a range of franchise partnerships, from corporate operators and university unions looking for the market-leading convenience proposition, through to entrepreneurs looking to develop a multi-site operation and existing retailers aiming to take a step back from the day-to-day decision making to spend more time doing the things they enjoy or splitting their time across other business interests.

Retailers converting their store to a Co-op franchise have experienced remarkable sales growth and customers are quick to reappraise their newly converted store.

Co-op’s strength in fresh food-focused meal solutions, top-up shopping and food-to-go transforms their store into a destination for local shoppers, who visit more frequently, spend more and drive higher-margin fresh sales.

Ethical commitments

Famous for its unrivalled ethical retailing and sustainability agenda, Co-op’s ethical commitments run through everything it does, from the impact on the planet through to everyone in its supply chain, giving customers another reason to shop in their local Co-op.

All packaging on Co-op own-brand products is now 100 per cent recyclable and franchise partners have benefited recently from the roll-out of an in-store soft plastics collection system, supporting the environment while giving customers additional reasons to shop with the company.

To make sure customers choosing a meat-free diet are not penalised, Co-op reduced the price of its plant-based GRO products to the same as its meat equivalent to match the retailers’ recent carbon reduction commitments and give this growing group of shoppers more reasons to visit Co-op.

Co-op is a business with a difference, putting the help for others at the heart of everything it does and its new and improved membership proposition gives back to both its members and communities, demonstrating its purpose beyond profit.

When customers buy selected Co-op products, 2p for every pound they spend goes back onto their Co-op Membership account and the same amount will also be given to support community organisations and local causes.

Highly credible

Co-op Franchise has recently been upgraded to an associate member of the regulatory body the British Franchise Association and with several franchisees now operating multi-site operations it reinforces Co-op as a highly credible franchise partner.

Siva Kailasapillai, Co-op franchise store owner, says: “The Co-op model has the capability to support me and my stores across the country and makes it easy for them to just run on their own.

“I care deeply about the quality of products I can offer my customers, as well as paying a fair price to the people behind the products, so have many alignments with Co-op and their values.”

At a glance

Established:

2018

Number of franchised outlets:

More than 30

Location of units:

UK-wide

Investment range:

Co-op contributes about 25 per cent of refit costs

Minimum required capital:

£150,000-£400,000 plus working capital

Contact:

Altaf Choudry, Franchise Business Development Manager altaf.choudry@coop.co.uk