Co-op wins award for its franchises

The retailer, which only started franchising in 2017, said that the award was due to the hard work and dedication of its franchisees.

Martin Rogers, head of new channels for Co-op, said: “I am incredibly proud of what the team and all our franchise partners have achieved, particularly in what has been a difficult year.

“Co-op franchise wouldn’t be what it is today without our valued retailers, who choose us as their trusted partner, and who really are an extension of the Co-op family.

“We know that through the power of partnership, we can achieve great things together and this is testament to that.”

Although the Co-op has been in business for 175 years, it was only four years ago that it first tried franchise businesses and 2019 when it launched its franchise recruitment programme.

Last year it more than doubled its franchise estate and will be just short of 40 franchise stores by the end of this year.