The East of England Co-operative Society is set to open the doors of its new look Co-op Supermarket in Halstead after undergoing a £1.5million refurbishment.

The store at Weaver’s Court reopens on Friday 30th July following a complete refurbishment and rebranding project, as well as offering customers new and extended ranges of products. 

Richard Samson, Chief Executive of the East of England Co-operative Society said: “The Society’s major investment in Halstead will mean that this very popular store can now offer an improved shopping environment for Members and customers.

“This £1.5million re-development project at the Halstead Co-op Supermarket is part of our ongoing multi-million pound self-funded development programme, which includes the building of new stores and improvements to existing ones right across East Anglia.”

To mark the supermarket’s re-opening there will be special offers and promotions in store, as well as a prize draw to win an LCD TV and tastings of the some of the locally sourced products available in store. The Society will be making a donation to Halstead Day Centre at the store’s reopening, and will be supporting Richard De Clare Primary School in the new term.

The Co-op Supermarket, which first opened in November 1987, has been completely refurbished and refreshed, offering a new modern shopping environment.  The store has a clean and bright new look, as well as the new East of England Co-operative Society brand identity.

There are also improvements to the Weaver’s Court shopping centre, including redecoration and new signage.

A new salad bar will be in store, in addition to the delicatessen counter, and hot food to go.  There will be an improved range of fresh greengrocery and chilled beers and wines, as well as frozen foods, in store bakery, world foods and
free from products.  You can also pick up your newspapers and magazines, pay your bills by Paypoint, buy your lottery ticket, or take cash out at the ATM, pick up your pharmacy needs or a drink in the coffee shop. 

The Co-op Supermarket will continue to stock locally sourced products including items from Tastes of Anglia and those sourced directly from local producers and growers.  Customers can pick up locally made bread and cakes from Peacock’s Bakery which comes from only a mile away from the Halstead store.

As part of the Society’s carrier bag initiative, customers across our trading area – including those in Halstead – have helped to achieve an 84% reduction in the number of carrier bags issued.  Each month we continue to save around 2.5 million carrier bags adding up to more than 30 million each year.

In addition to the refurbished Halstead Co-op Supermarket, the Society has recently completed major refurbishments at its supermarkets in Burnham-on-Crouch and Frinton-on-Sea, as well as opening a new eco-friendly store in Hatfield Peverel.  Building work has also started in Wimpole Road, Colchester on a brand new food store expected to be completed next spring.

Note to Editors:
The East of England Co-operative Society is the largest independent retailer in East Anglia and has over 200 trading outlets which are located in more than 70 towns and villages including the three regional centres of Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester.   

 The Society’s diverse business activities include: supermarkets and food stores, travel, pharmacy, optical and funeral branches, petrol forecourts, training academy and events and conference centre. 

For further information:
Laura Bennett, Public Relations Officer, East of England Co-operative Society,
Wherstead Park, The Street, Wherstead, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2BJ    
E-mail: l.bennett@eastofengland.coop