Central England Co-op invests over £550k and creates 23 jobs with new store in Godmanchester
Posted by rob smyth | Published: 09/02/2018
Central England Co-operative opened the doors to its new food store in Cambridgeshire by handing 50 lucky shoppers golden tickets – with one walking away with a brand new 49 inch wide screen television.
The opening of the brand new food store, based in Ermine Street, Godmanchester, offers a wide range of products and services to meet the needs of local residents.
A total of £560,000 has been spent on the store and fixtures and fittings include the latest in pioneering new energy efficient refrigeration technologies to minimise environmental impact and LED lighting.
Twenty-three jobs have been created as a result of the investment.
Niccolas Charles, 27, revealed that he was amazed when he unwrapped his golden ticket to find out he had won a 49 inch TV.
He said: “I was first in the queue at 7.30am for the golden ticket and was so happy to find out I won the television.
“I live just around the corner and think the shop is really, really lovely. I am so happy to have been part of the opening and won the top prize.”
Pupils from nearby Huntingdon Primary School were on hand as the special guests to cut the ribbon and announce the store officially open.
Other golden ticket winners shared a mix of Co-operative gift vouchers and Irresistible Fairtrade chocolate bars, and a wide screen television.
Godmanchester Central England Co-operative Store Manager Joel Mattless said: “Our team were so excited to finally allow our members and customers to see our new store. The store looks fantastic and already customers have been making many positive comments about how it looks and the different products and services now available.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank customers for their patience during the move, it has been long-awaited, but hopefully everyone will enjoy the store as much as we do.
“All of us here at Godmanchester store are proud to be part of such a great community and are looking forward to welcoming all customers, old and new, to come and enjoy our new food store.”
The Godmanchester Co-operative food store is open from 7am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday.
The store will offer a wide range of products from everyday necessities to something a little more special.
This includes fresh and local fruit and vegetables, an in-store bakery offering breads and pastries, chilled beers and wines, fresh and frozen product, Irresistible product ranges, Seattle Coffee, and a great selection of cold food to go.
It also offers Paypoint, Collect Plus, foreign currency, a free car park and a free cash machine.
The Society has also installed a lifesaving defibrillator on site out of money generated from the 5p carrier bag levy. This installation was made possible thanks to landlord Wordie Properties Limited.
Notes to editors
Picture reference: Pupils from Huntingdon Primary School cut the ribbon at the new Central England Co-operative Food Store in Godmanchester.
Local resident Niccolas Charles, with his daughter Violet, was all smiles after he won a new television as part of a Golden Ticket Giveaway at the new Central England Co-operative Food Store in Godmanchester. He is pictured here with Central England Co-operative Store Manager Joel Mattless.
About Central England Co-operative
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with gross sales of £927 million in 2016/17. The Society’s principal areas of activity are food, funeral services, and property investment. Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2017.
Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility. It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence. The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.
Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.
Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop
For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative
Rob Smyth / Heather Clapton at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140
Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop