New Co-op store launches in Cambridge to serve Marleigh Community

15 December 2023

Co-op launches its newest store in Cambridge today (Friday, 15 December) to serve and support the Marleigh community, which is a new residential neighbourhood in East Cambridge delivered in joint venture partnership by award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group and Marshall Group.

The purpose-built 2,500 sq ft store – located in Jubilee Square, off Newmarket Road - opens between 7am-10pm daily, and has created 12 local jobs.

Marleigh’s Co-op includes an in-store bakery, hot food, a Costa coffee express machine and a free cash machine (ATM) to provide access to cash in the community. This sits alongside a focus on fresh and healthy products; meal ideas; everyday essentials; food-to-go; Fairtrade products, chilled beers, and award-winning wines, ready meals, pizzas and free-from, vegan and plant-based products.

The store offers parcel collection services through DPD, and the online home delivery of groceries is available through Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats for added ease and convenience - groceries are picked fresh in the local store and delivered quickly to the community.

A soft plastic recycling unit is available in-store to enable the community to recycle ‘soft plastics’ including crisp packets and bread bags, lids from ready meals and yogurt pots, biscuit wrappers, and pet food pouches - ensuring all Co-op’s own food packaging is recyclable through either local authority kerbside collections, or the in-store soft plastic recycling.

Stephen Bastiani, Co-op’s Marleigh Store Manager, said: “We have had a great response - the team is delighted to have launched Co-op’s newest store. Our aim is to operate at the heart of local life, and we’ve worked to develop the range, choice and added services to create a compelling offer to serve and support our community, conveniently. This includes a focus on delivering member-value so that the people who own our business, Co-op's member-owners, benefit every time they shop.”

Rebecca Littler, Group Sales and Marketing Director, The Hill Group, said: “We have taken great care to design a community square that will serve as the ‘heart of Marleigh’, so we are delighted to be celebrating the official opening of the Co-op here today. Jubilee Square, thriving with a school, children’s nursery, community centre, and R3form Pilates, contributes to the delightful village atmosphere at Marleigh. The upcoming opening of the authentic Italian deli Signorelli’s will further enhance the community feel of the development.

“The addition of this first-class amenity is going to make a great difference to the lives of our residents and I am confident that it will add value to the flourishing community spirit that is evident here at Marleigh.”

Richard Howe, Managing Director, Marshall Group Properties, said: “We’re proud to continue to develop a sustainable community of contemporary homes in a vibrant, thriving community surrounded by green open spaces. The official opening of the Co-op today marks another significant milestone that ensures hundreds of happy residents can enjoy their new homes and community on the east side of Cambridge.”

In August, Co-op announced its biggest ever single investment in pricing of £70 million, as it extended its ‘member-only’ pricing across everyday essentials. The convenience retailer launched the price investment with a list of nearly 200 fixed lines, including milk, eggs and, a Co-op sliced loaf which is priced at just 76pence.

The Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operatives. Its Members own the business and play an intrinsic part in the governance of the organisation, enjoying a wide number of benefits, including member-only pricing across everyday essentials and personalised offers via the Co-op Membership app.

More information about the benefits of Co-op Membership, is available by visiting www.coop.co.uk/membership

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Further information:
Andrew Torr
Senior Press Officer, Co-op Press Office
M: 07702505551
E: andrew.torr@coop.co.uk

Editor notes:

About Co-op:
Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives with interests across food, funerals, insurance and legal services. Owned by millions of UK consumers, the Co-op operates over 2,400 food stores, over 800 funeral homes and provides products to over 5,000 other stores, including those run by independent co-operative societies and through its wholesale business, Nisa Retail Limited. Employing almost 60,000 people, the Co-op has an annual turnover of over £11billion and is a recognised leader for its social goals and community-led programmes. The Co-op exists to meet members’ needs and stand up for the things they believe in.

About Marleigh:
The new Co-op is located within the desirable district of east Cambridge and proudly sits at the centre of the new Marleigh neighbourhood. Once complete, the development will deliver 1,300 new homes, alongside new public space and a wide range of new amenities including outdoor spaces, parks, and playgrounds. Offering a selection of one to five-bedroom properties to suit a range of lifestyles, those who choose to make Marleigh the place they call home will be welcomed into a flourishing new community that will continue to grow for many years to come. For further information about Marleigh, visit https://marleigh-cambridge.co.uk/or call 01223 827 241.