SEPTEMBER 2018

CO-OP GROUP
Co-op Group opens £6m distribution centre in Scotland
p The official opening with the Earl of Moray John Douglas Stuart, Inverness provost Helen Carmichael, Chris Whitfield, Andy Perry and David Roberts
The Co-op Group has opened a new £6m
distribution centre at Inverness Airport
Business Park to facilitate future store
expansion in Northern Scotland.
The Dalcross Distribution Centre covers
12,000 sq ft and employs 50 people.
The Group plans to open 18 new stores
in Scotland by the end of 2018, with a
further 20 to be revamped as part of a
£28m expansion and renovation plan.
This will take total store numbers to 365
and the number of Group employees to
almost 6,000.
The facility will be serviced by doubledecker
vehicles, which will result in fewer
journeys, reduce CO2 emissions and
eliminate 1,800 road miles per day.
Logistics director Andy Perry said:
“We’re thrilled to be able to launch our
new site at Dalcross – it’s a modern and
future-proofed facility, which is perfectly
placed to support the Co-op’s evergrowing
operations in Scotland.
“Our significant investment in a new
distribution centre is also a symbol of
our absolute commitment to serving
communities in the north of Scotland, as
well as a strong indicator of how well our
food business is performing in this area.
“We have ambitious plans to continue
to open new stores and Dalcross will
ensure we can continue to serve our
members and customers in the Highlands
and Islands for years to come.”
James Campbell, chair of Inverness
Airport Business Park, said: “Inverness
Airport Business Park is delighted to
welcome its first occupier to the phase one
site and it will be brilliant to see the Coop
operating from their new address at 1
Vallance Road.
“The speed at which this development
has progressed has been hugely
impressive, with the Co-op’s project
team only arriving onsite in October
2017. Plot 2/1 has gone through a major
transformation in a very short space of
time and it’s testament to the Co-op and
their contractors for the excellent job
that has been done in developing this
distribution centre.”
On the road with the Co-op message
Co-op Group members and shoppers will
have a chance to find out more about the
society at a series of ‘Join in Live’ events
this autumn.
The Group will visit 24 towns and
cities across the UK so people can learn
more about what it is doing in their local
community, meet local causes being
supported through the membership
scheme and discover how they benefit
when members shop in its stores.
In addition, attendees can put forward
ideas about what they would like to see
in their local Co-op store, learn how the
Group is performing as a business and
find out about the exciting plans it has for
the future.
The events will be attended by local
Members’ Council representatives,
Member Pioneers who work in the
community, and senior managers from the
co-op’s Food team.
Nick Crofts, president of the Members’
Council, said: “The Join in Live events
are taking our co-op message in to local
communities – my call out to co-operators
is come along if you can, but also bring
a friend and show them how great the
Co-op is at supporting the community.”
u For information on where the events
are being held between September and
November and to book your place, visit
coop.co.uk/joininlive
8 | SEPTEMBER 2018