Stewartby Store Launches & a Special 75,000th Home Delivery

In line with our ongoing store investments and part of our revive plan, today we announce the successful launch of our Stewartby Food store.

Heritage and new colleagues

Based in in the county of Bedfordshire, the model village of Stewartby was originally built for the workers of the London Brick Company. This unique store has views over the Grade 2 listed chimneys, once part of the biggest brick factories in Europe but now closed. With the new housing development located nearby, the store will provide convenience for many of the local community and create 15 new jobs for the local area.

A long-term investment

A £500,000 investment, the 3,000sq ft new build store is a premium convenience format which will have a full food-to-go offering, National lottery and Costa Coffee machine choices for customers. Helping to support our local suppliers with produce from the area, there will be a number of new suppliers stocked in store including Silverstone Brewery, Black Pit Brewery and Warner’s Distillery to name a few, along with Mudwalls Farm also supplying produce.

That’s not all in-store as there will be a special in-house wine expert (who is also the store manager!) James O’Farrell-White. James will be on hand to provide members and customers with advice on the best wine choices for a range of tastes as well as ideas for food pairings.  Prior to opening all colleagues in-store have taken part in a number of inductions and training from the Food Learning & Development team so they are up to speed within store.

Continuing to reduce single-use plastics

As part of the 1Change campaign from the society, the store will pledge to limit the use of single-use plastic and help shoppers make more sustainable choices by selling only compostable carrier bags. This coinciding with more than 140 fellow food stores taking part in the initiative.

What our new store manager, James O’Farrell-White had to say

“My colleagues and I are so pleased to open the doors to our new Your Co-op Food store following the investment. We can’t wait to welcome customers and I’m sure they’ll be impressed with the new store and a wide range of products we have available. I’m certainly looking forward to sharing my recommendations on the excellent wine selection we’ll have available.”

The launch of the new Stewartby store will be the fourth food store investment in recent months, following openings at Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire, Botley in Oxfordshire and Bidford-on-Avon in Warwickshire.

A Special 75,000^th Home Delivery

Another proud milestone for our society, as we reach 75,000 Home Deliveries to the most in need within our local communities.

However, for this delivery, Church Stretton Foodstore delivered to a very unique customer, Bruce Harris. After turning 100 on 1^st September 2020, Bruce was presented with a hamper by volunteer Dave who has been with us throughout the Covid-19 period along with Sarah our Home delivery co-ordinator.

[Sarah, our Home Delivery Co-ordinator with our 75,000^th Home Delivery customer Bruce Harris, along with Colin, Neighbour & Dave, Volunteer]

Bruce who has been kindly supported by his neighbour Colin on regular deliveries each week since the March lockdown, decided to have a week off and organised a delivery with their local Food store Church Stretton. He left us a message below:

“Many, many thanks for the hamper and the pictures. It is fantastic that he is the 75,000th home delivery, Bruce was over the moon. Also, many thanks to Dave too for the fantastic volunteering work he and the team are doing. The Co-op at it’s very best!”

As well as our Home Delivery service, we also have in place the Member Call and Collect Service, dedicated to the most vulnerable members in our communities. The service ensures they can still socially distance and stay safe when collecting food shops in the continually changing environment.