Co-op has announced plans to open 24 stores across Britain by the end of June, including three locations in the West Midlands. This expansion brings the total number of Co-op stores opened in 2026 to 40, with sites ranging from the Scottish Highlands to Cumbria, Gloucestershire, and Nottinghamshire.
The new West Midlands stores are set to open in Birmingham, Wombourne, and Cleobury Mortimer. A Co-op spokesperson stated: "Co-op is committed to backing Britain's high streets and communities, and the stores are a combination of new stores, those re-opening their doors following transformative investment, and franchise stores."
Kate McCrae, Co-op Retail Director, added: "We're investing to create local stores which are more than just a shop; they are a convenient hub contributing to local life and meeting the needs of communities. Whether it's quality food for an evening at home, food and drink on the go, a top-up shop, or our wide range of added services – we're here to serve and support communities, conveniently."
Full List of New Stores
The 24 stores opening by the end of June include:
- Innerleithen, Scottish Borders
- Market Place, Pickering, Yorkshire
- Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire
- Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland
- Haxby, Yorkshire
- Matlock, Derbyshire
- Bishopston, Bristol
- Bridgwater, Somerset
- Grange Over Sands, Cumbria
- Birmingham University Centre, West Midlands
- Wood Green, Greater London
- Stepps, Glasgow
- Lechlade, Gloucester
- Earls Court, Greater London
- Lydney, Gloucestershire
- Callerton, Tyne and Wear
- Ashford, Kent
- Newhaw, Surrey
- Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire
- Didcot, Oxfordshire (2 stores)
- Rendlesham, Suffolk
- Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire
- Wombourne, Staffordshire
- Wynyard, County Durham
Franchise and Quick Commerce Expansion
Co-op also highlighted its franchise store growth, with 65 franchise stores operating at the end of 2025 and a target to exceed 100 franchise sites during 2026. New locations include university campuses, hospitals, and petrol forecourts. Co-op stores serve as micro-distribution hubs for its quick commerce operation, with around 90% of the UK population now having access to Co-op groceries online through its own shop and partners like Just Eat, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats. Orders are picked fresh in local stores, ensuring the high street benefits from online operations and providing fast, convenient delivery to communities.
