SHUTTERS DOWN
Major supermarket chain with over 2,500 stores confirms exact date it will shut ‘nice quality’ branch
Our Business Editor reveals what's going on with British high streets
A MAJOR supermarket chain with 2,500 stores has confirmed the exact date it will shut a "nice quality" branch temporarily.
The Co-op in Crowthorne Village, Berkshire, is set to close on August 2.
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The store is shuttering for 10 weeks while the interior is refurbished.
However the good news is that the full closure is initially only ten days. The shop will re-open on August 12 as a community store.
The community store, a smaller pop up shop just for essentials, will stay open for eight weeks.
But there will then be a period of three weeks where customers are left with no shop as the refurbished store is stocked.
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A member of staff posted a message on Facebook which read: "I have seen the plans for the new shop and it looks a great design as a team we are excited for this new look."
One delighted customer wrote: "I'm glad they're not closing permanently."
While another added: "Amazing news."
Meanwhile Co-op permanently shut its store in Meir, Stoke-on-Trent on July 13.
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However, the decision went down badly with customers in the town.
One commented on : "Supported this store for years and then they are closing it.
"Another kick in the backside for loyal customers and staff."
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Others took to social media to vent their frustration.
Another local added: "Always packed when I've driven past."
And a third said: "Sad times."
Instead, customers will have to look to the Nisa store across the road, with the franchise also part of the Co-op Group.
Fortunately for staff, it is understood that all the jobs from the closed branch will be transferred to that store.
A spokesman for the supermarket previously said: "Co-op regularly reviews its stores and the decision to sell any store is only taken after careful consideration.
"Our Meir store is being sold and a key priority has been to safeguard local jobs.
"Colleagues, who have been informed and are being fully supported, will transfer to the new operator.
"The new store will operate as a Nisa store, meaning that Co-op favourite products will remain available locally.
"We would like to thank the Meir community for their support of the Co-op."
Retailers opening stores
IT'S not all bad news on the high street as several retailers are bucking the trend and opening shops.
- German discounter Aldi has announced it will open 35 new UK stores this year. The openings form part of Aldi's long-term target of operating 1,500 stores in the UK.
- Asda has been opening hundreds of convenience stores as it looks to rival major players Tesco and Sainsbury's.
- Purepay Retail Limited , the parent company of Bonmarché, Edinburgh Woollen Mill (EWM) and Peacocks, Purepay Retail Limited, has said it wants to open 100 new high street stores over the next 18 months.
- Home Bargains has said it wants to "eventually have between 800 and 1,000 retail outlets open".
- Primark is also opening new branches and investing and renovating more than a dozen of its existing shops.
- Screwfix is set to open 40 new stores nationwide as its owner, Kingfisher, seeks to expand the DIY brand's national presence.
- Tesco has revealed plans to open 70 more stores across the UK over the next year as part of major expansion plans.
- WHSmith has turned its focus to the travel side of its business, with plans to open new sites in airports, railway stations and hospitals.
It comes after Co-op, which has around 2,500 locations, shut down another branch in Swindon earlier this year.
Meanwhile, The Co-op in Peacehaven's Meridian Shopping Centre, East Sussex, pulled the plug in the new year amid fresh redevelopment plans.
Some retailers have closed a few branches here and there for various reasons, like when a store lease has come to an end.
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Other examples of one-off rather than widespread closures is if there are changes in the area, like a shopping centre closing, and in some cases a shop will close to relocate to another area.
Some chains have faced tougher conditions though, forcing them to shut dozens of stores, or all of them in the worst case.
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