Opening date set for community Co-op

A NEW Co-op store is set to open later this month and shoppers have been given a sneak peek ahead of the big day.

The new Co-operative community store is set to open in Market Street, Ashby, and replaces the town’s former New Look shop, which closed down last year.

The new store will be metres away from Ashby’s current Co-operative supermarket.

It will come complete with selfscan till points as well as machines for Costa Coffee, Tango Ice Blast and F’real Milkshakes when it officially opens to the public on Friday, January 14.

That is after the Co-op’s other Market Street branch, further up the road, closes the day before, on January 13.

The relocation is part of efforts from Central England Co-operative to offer more to the community.

New images from the inside of the store have been released in advance of the opening, displaying special eco-friendly fridges and lighting which back up the retailer’s ecofriendly ethos.

Store manager Chris Watson believes it will be a great addition to the high street.

He said: “These images show that our brand new store in Ashby is close to being ready to launch offering a bigger, brighter and more modern shopping experience for the local community, with a host of new features and an expanded product range.”

The new store will also include a food bank collection point supporting Ashby Food Bank as it continues to manage the increased demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Complete with a customer car park and free cash machine, the new community store will be open from 7am to 10pm, Monday to Sundays.

“We can’t wait to welcome our customers and members to see the fantastic new store and keep the local community stocked with vital food and essentials in these uncertain times,” added Mr Watson.