The Co-op has announced plans to open 18 stores across the UK in the coming months, as part of a retail investment that includes new outlets and refurbished sites spanning from Sussex to Stirling. The first new Co-op store of 2026 will open in Didcot, Oxfordshire.
Initial reopenings following makeovers include a convenience store in Eastern Green, Coventry, and a franchise-operated site in Ealing, London. Kate McCrae, Co-op operations director, said: “We’re focused on creating local stores which are more than just a shop – they are a hub locally that contribute to local life and conveniently meet the needs of communities.”
In November 2025, the Co-op announced plans to create thousands of new apprenticeships through a £70 million commitment via its Levy Share service, aiming to create 7,000 matched apprenticeships by 2030. The scheme enables levy-paying employers to transfer unused apprenticeship levy funds to businesses, charities, and community organisations. Since its launch four years ago, it has matched more than 3,800 apprenticeships, with two-thirds in the most deprived communities and a third in the care sector.
The expansion comes as the Co-op continues to recover from a significant cyber attack that forced the shutdown of parts of its IT infrastructure. In July, it was confirmed that personal details of all 6.5 million Co-op members had been stolen. Chief executive Shirine Khoury-Haq stated that “names, addresses and contact information” were accessed, but the hackers were unable to install planned ransomware.
