Co-op
This coverage examines Co-op’s operations, strategy, and role within the UK retail and convenience sector. Reporting covers store performance, product ranges, sustainability initiatives, community programmes, financial results, and leadership decisions. Focused on commercial and operational impact, it offers insights for retail executives and managers engaged in grocery, convenience, and ethical retailing.
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Nov- 2025 -27 NovemberEconomy
Budget reaction: Retail split as business rates and import rules shift
The retail industry has labelled the Autumn Budget as a “mixed bag” for retail, offering relief for many shops, but bringing in new costs for others Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered Labour’s first Autumn Statement, outlining permanent business rates reductions for 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure businesses and confirming new customs…
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25 NovemberSupermarkets
Co-op to open record 11 stores in one week
Co-op has announced that it is set to open 11 stores this week (24 November), a record for the supermarket. The move is part of the retailer’s investment in more than 200 new and transformed stores over 2024/25, and among the 50 stores Co-op has confirmed will open this November…
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24 NovemberSupermarkets
Co-op pledges £70m to create 7,000 apprenticeships by 2030
Co-op has pledged £70m to support 7,000 apprenticeships by 2030 through its Levy Share scheme, as apprenticeship starts in England continue to fall and skills shortages persist. The initiative has already directed £40m of unused levy funds to organisations across the UK since 2021, matching more than 3,800 apprenticeships. Around…
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11 NovemberSupermarkets
Grocery inflation eases to 4.7% as supermarkets step up Xmas promotions
Grocery price inflation slowed to 4.7% this month as supermarkets stepped up promotions ahead of Christmas, according to new data from Worldpanel by Numerator. Take-home sales at grocers rose by 3.2% in the four weeks to 2 November compared with the same period last year, with spending on promoted items…
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10 NovemberSupermarkets
Co-op to open 50 new stores before Christmas
Co-op has revealed plans to open more than 50 new or transformed stores across the UK before Christmas. The openings, which takes Co-op’s investment to more than £200m over 2024/25 in over 200 new and transformed stores, are a variety of formats and locations. As part of the 50, Co-op…
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7 NovemberPeople Moves
Boots names former John Lewis exec as customer and marketing head
Boots has announced the appointment of former John Lewis executive, Charlotte Lock, as its new senior vice president for customer and marketing. Lock joins the health and beauty retailer after serving as pan-partnership customer director at John Lewis from March 2022 to June 2025. Before that, she held several roles…
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Oct- 2025 -13 OctoberHigh Street
150,000 retail jobs at risk without business rate reform, Co-op warns
Around 60,000 small shops and 150,000 jobs could disappear without business rates reform, according to new research from Co-op. If reforms are not delivered, 10% of small high street business owners say they would need to lay off staff, and one in eight say they would be at risk of…
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6 OctoberFeatures
Fresh no more: Amazon’s online grocery strategy explained
Amazon has announced it will close all 14 of its Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, while converting a further five into Whole Foods Market locations. By the end of 2026, the company will operate 12 Whole Foods stores across the country, including a recently opened branch in Chelsea and…
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6 OctoberDepartment Stores
John Lewis appoints new director of merchandising
John Lewis has appointed Anna Milne as its new director of merchandising, a new role that will be part of John Lewis management board. Most recently, she has been the merchandising director for the luxury lifestyle brands Net-A-Porter and Mr Porter. Milne has nearly 20 years of experience in retail,…
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2 OctoberDepartment Stores
John Lewis appoints new chief people officer
The John Lewis Partnership has announced the appointment of Helen Webb OBE as its new chief people officer, joining the partnership on 24 November. Webb was most recently chief people officer at WHSmith, supporting the business through large scale employee changes, and prior to that was chief people and services…
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