New East of England Co-op food store in East Harling officially opens

The doors of the village shop in East Harling have officially re-opened after a refit by new owners, the East of England Co-op, who recently took on the store on Market Street.

Chairman of Harling Parish Council, Philip Edge officially opend the store, alongside Store Manager Ryan Cornwall, on Tuesday 14 December in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Children from East Harling Primary School also performed carols to bring some festive cheer to the opening. 

Since 1 November, a temporary shop space had been created to ensure the community still had access to the store while the remainder of the shop was remodelled in time for Christmas. This is the second time the East Harling store has been run as a co-operative, as it was once owned by the Thetford Co-operative Society.

Joint Chief Executive, Roger Grosvenor comments: “It is an absolute pleasure to bring a member-owned co-operative back to East Harling. We have been working hard to create a store the community can be proud of.

“What makes the East of England Co-op unique is that we are owned by our members, made up of local shoppers across the region who all have an equal share in the business. Dedicated to supporting our communities, from tackling food poverty to supporting local farmers, the new East of England Co-op in East Harling will be a pillar of support to local people, as well as a trusted shop for everyday essentials and quality products.”

The new store includes a Barista Bar serving great tasting coffee and other hot beverages. Award-winning local produce will also be available, including products grown and produced in Norfolk, meaning customers can make a positive impact on their local community every time they shop.

The new store can be found at Market Street, East Harling, Norfolk, NR16 2AD.