The Co-operative Group 50+ Years of Partnership – Across the UK
For more than 50 years, Bowman Riley has worked with The Co-operative Group, supporting the evolution of one of the UK’s best-known retail and consumer brands.
Our relationship spans hundreds of projects across the UK, covering food and non-food retail, convenience stores, distribution and logistics, workplaces, petrol stations, funeral care and other property assets.
Our long-standing understanding of the Co-op’s estate, operational requirements and brand has enabled us to support projects ranging from strategic estate planning and surveys through to design, refurbishment, roll-outs and delivery.
A relationship built over decades
Our work with the Co-op has included:
- Estate rationalisation and development strategy
- Property and condition surveys
- Feasibility studies and development appraisals
- Convenience store conversions and refurbishments
- Internal store planning
- Programme and roll-out management
- Architecture and Principal Designer services
- Distribution and logistics facilities
- Workplace and customer-facing environments
- Conservation and refurbishment of historic assets
We have worked across the Co-op estate from Orkney to Exeter, responding to different building types, locations and operational requirements.
From retail roll-outs to innovation
Our relationship has evolved alongside the Co-op.
We worked with the organisation to develop food, funeral and logistics model manuals and have supported extensive roll-out programmes, including food and funeral care refits, new sites and planned and unplanned asset renewal.
More recently, our work has included the development of new approaches to convenience retail.
Co-op Micro Store
Bowman Riley worked with the Co-op to develop a new compact food-focused retail format designed for high-footfall urban locations.
The Solihull store rethinks the traditional convenience store, focusing on immediacy, a tightly curated food and drink offer and a prominent hot food serve-over. The successful launch provides a foundation for future roll-out of the concept.
Co-op Soham
At Soham, we delivered the Co-op’s first sustainability showcase branch, transforming an ageing 1970s supermarket through targeted retrofit and operational improvements.
Thermal modelling informed the investment strategy, with improvements including roof insulation, high-performance glazing and targeted low-carbon measures. An asbestos-containing rear shed was also removed and replaced with a small biodiversity area.
The £1.2m refurbishment was delivered within an eight-week programme, demonstrating how existing retail assets can be upgraded to improve energy performance, operational efficiency and customer experience.
Supporting the wider Co-op estate
Our work extends beyond individual stores.
At Wellingborough, we refurbished a 330,000 sq ft former logistics facility to create additional regional distribution capacity. The project incorporated new ambient, chilled and freezer areas, alongside improvements to offices, yard capacity and fuelling facilities. The first phase was delivered within six months to support the Co-op’s Easter trading peak.
At One Angel Square in Manchester, we created Foodology, an innovative food development and testing environment for the Co-op’s in-house chefs. The scheme transformed a business lounge into a flexible environment incorporating demonstration, presentation, agile working and food innovation spaces.
Our conservation team has also supported the Co-op’s historic estate, including the Grade II-listed 17th-century Co-op store in Long Buckby, where we developed a sensitive strategy for replacement of its historic thatched roof.
A trusted property partner
In 2021, Bowman Riley was named Supplier of the Year at the Co-op Property and Charity Awards, recognising the strength of the relationship and the breadth of support provided.
Today, our work continues to support the Co-op as its property portfolio evolves – combining strategic insight, technical expertise and a detailed understanding of its buildings, operations and customers.
50+ years. Hundreds of projects. One enduring partnership.