Co-op has launched its first new convenience store of 2026 at Willowbrook Park, a recently built residential area in Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK.
The British company said the purpose-built shop has created 11 local jobs.
The outlet offers a Costa Coffee Express machine, a bakery and hot food, alongside Co-op’s main ranges, which include fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy, food-to-go products and everyday grocery items.
Online delivery from the store is being provided through Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Co-op’s own e-commerce site, with orders selected in-store and delivered locally.
Co-op area manager Amanda Fleming said: “We’re delighted to invest in Didcot and proud to be the first new store Co-op launches in 2026. The store looks fantastic, and we have a focus on being a hub locally for the community - delivering the quality, choice, value and added services, which can be enjoyed by everyone. We're here to contribute to local life and conveniently serve and support the community.”
According to the company, customers who spend more than £25 ($33.5m) via its e-commerce site during January are eligible for free delivery.
The launch comes shortly after Co-op’s January introduction of its Served “Taste of Asia” range, which offers a main and two sides for two for £8 for Co-op members.
It also follows the rollout of its own-brand good laboratory practice (GLP)-1- “friendly meals” within the “Good Fuel” health line, which the retailer has described as a first for a UK convenience retailer.
The Willowbrook Park branch also features a soft plastic recycling point for materials not commonly taken in household collections, such as crisp packets, bread bags, ready meal lids, biscuit wrappers and pet food pouches.
Last November, Co-op committed £70m to create 7,000 apprenticeships by 2030 through its Levy Share service, aiming to address skills shortages across the UK.
The commitment came against a backdrop of falling apprenticeship numbers, with the retailer pointing to a 31% drop in apprenticeship starts since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in 2017.
Since launching its Levy Share model in 2021, Co-op has already channelled £40m into training, supporting more than 3,800 matched apprenticeships.
