Co-op has re-opened its store in Soham, East Cambridgeshire, following a £1m refurbishment that has turned the site into a “sustainability showcase”.
The site aims to demonstrate to customers the measures it has taken to build sustainability into its operations. This includes motion-activated fridge lights, support for local biodiversity, digital displays of live energy consumption data, and rooftop solar panels.
Meanwhile, back-of-house areas will have further signage and call-outs to the sustainable changes for Co-op staff, from energy-saving fixtures and fittings to recycling initiatives.
Additionally, the new look convenience store will serve as a “test, learn and adopt” environment, where the group can trial new sustainability technologies and processes. It plans to roll out any successful measures into future new stores and refits across its estate.
“Co-op’s sustainability agenda is driven heavily by our member-owners,“ said Heather Thomas, group property and sustainability director. “It’s a topic that they are passionate about and one they use their voices for to ensure that we as a business are doing the right thing for the planet.
“Our showcase store demonstrates our sustainability efforts in action, through easy-to-digest in-store communications that inform our members and shoppers on the impactful changes we are making in our convenience stores to help us on the important journey to net-zero.
“The fact that this store will allow for us to trial new initiatives in the sustainability space is a real game-changer and, in the true spirit of co-operation, it’s our ambition to share these technological insights and best practices with the wider retail industry.”
Co-op has committed to reaching net zero across its operations by 2035 and the entire business by 2040.
