Surrey convenience store rebrands as Co-op

A long-standing convenience store in Surrey has switched to Co-op, bringing 15 new jobs to the area.

Retailers Bharat and Dipti Patel ran the Spar on the site in Englefield Green in Surrey for more than nine years. The rebranded Co-op is double the size of the previous shop with an in-store bakery, Costa Coffee Express machine and InPost Lockers.

The store manager told local media outlets that the range is now catered to meet the needs of the community, which includes local university students and village residents. A new free cash machine can be found on site. The store also has meal ideas, everyday essentials, Fairtrade products, flowers, chilled beers and award-winning wines, pizzas plus free-from, vegan and plant-based products.

Bharat Patel, director of Co-op franchise partner, AKSR DHAM Ltd, said, “My wife Dipti and I are delighted to be opening our first Co-op store – we have run this store as an independent 950sq ft store for the last nine years and always felt it had greater potential.

“Our partnership with Co-op now allows us to fully reach that potential, the support we have received has been invaluable – helping to bring my vision alive and give the community of Englefield Green a great new-look community store too.”

Soft recycling of items like bread bags, crisp packets, pet food pouches and Co-op own wrappers can also be recycled in-store. The new Co-op will be open from 7am until 10pm every day of the week.