Co-op to open new university franchise store

Keele is the seventh Co-op franchise store to open across six universities –  it already has stores at Leeds, Kent, Newcastle, Oxford Brookes, and Stirling.

The new store, which will be managed and run by Keele University Students’ Union, will serve students, staff, and the local community.

Phil Butters, director of estates and development at Keele University, said: “As a residential campus, our retail offer is an important part of us being able to provide a quality experience for our students and wider campus community. We continually review the services that we offer and are delighted to be forming this new partnership with the Students’ Union and the Co-op.

“As well as providing a new and refreshed retail offer on campus, we are excited to form a new relationship with a globally recognised organisation which shares many of our aspirations about environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality.”

Martin Rogers, head of new channels at Co-op, added: “Our university franchise stores are a great opportunity for us to grow our brand, share our values, and get our products into the hands of the next generation of customers and members and as the exclusive retail grocery store franchise partner for The National Union of Students and we’re already serving about 150,000 students up and down the country.

“We’re delighted to add Keele to our ever-growing portfolio and are looking forward to welcoming those students and community in September.”