Major UK supermarket with 2,000 stores confirms 'devastating' closure of branch
Co-op has announced the closure of its Peverell Park Road branch in Plymouth, leaving local residents concerned about the loss of a key community resource. The store will shut its doors on November 28, according to The Plymouth Herald.
Closing down notices have appeared in the shop window, confirming the end-of-month deadline. The retailer, which operates approximately 2,400 to 2,500 food stores across the UK as one of the country's largest food retailers, is selling the site along with its Newton Ferrers location to a convenience operator.
Staff Protection and Transfer
A Co-op spokesperson stated that safeguarding local jobs has been a priority throughout the process. Store colleagues, who have been informed of the decision, will transfer to the new operators under TUPE regulations. The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 are UK employment laws designed to protect workers when a business changes ownership, ensuring their existing terms, conditions, and continuity of employment automatically transfer to the new employer.
Impact on Local Community
The closure affects the Peverell neighbourhood of Plymouth, an area with a population of 13,553 according to the 2011 census, consisting mostly of Edwardian terraced houses. Despite assurances that the community will retain access to groceries under the new operator, local reaction has been one of disappointment.
One elderly shopper described the store as a "lifeline" when speaking to The Plymouth Herald. On social media, customers expressed their dismay, with one stating they were "gutted" by the news. Another resident commented:
"Sad news, this Co-op store has been there for years."
Wider Retail Strategy
The closure forms part of a broader pattern of portfolio optimization at the Co-operative Group. In 2024, the retailer opened 40 new stores while closing over 100 locations across the UK. The company has announced plans to open 75 new UK stores in 2025, while also closing 19 stores over a six-month period.
This shift occurs against a backdrop of wider change in UK retail. The sector experienced approximately 12,804 chain store closures in 2024, equivalent to 35 closures per day. However, convenience stores bucked the trend, topping UK retail store openings in 2024 and experiencing the second fewest closures in a decade, indicating growing demand for local shopping.
The Co-operative Group, one of the world's largest consumer co-operatives with approximately 5 to 7 million active member-owners who collectively own the business, emphasized that the stores have been sold to convenience operators to enable ongoing access to food in local communities.
