The University of Surrey teams-up with Co-op to launch new Campus store

12 September 2024

The University of Surrey has teamed-up with Co-op to launch a new convenience store on campus to further enhance student amenities.

Opening on the University’s Stag Hill Campus, the new Co-op store responds to student feedback and offers an extensive range of quality, fresh, healthy produce and everyday essentials conveniently, while also creating up to 30 jobs including part-time employment opportunities for Surrey students.

The University of Surrey will operate the store as a Co-op franchise, serving-up bakery and hot food products alongside a focus on fresh, chilled and healthy produce; meal ideas and everyday essentials; food-to-go and meal deals; freshly squeezed orange juice; Fairtrade products; ready meals, pizzas and, free-from, vegan and plant-based products.

Co-op is committed to supporting UK farmers, growers and suppliers, with all of its fresh and frozen meat and poultry, including in its ready meals, pies and freshly prepared sandwiches, 100% British.

A soft plastic recycle unit is available in store to enable the campus community to recycle harder 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 either through local authority kerbside collections, or the in-store recycling unit.

Will Davies, Chief Operating Officer, The University of Surrey, explained: “The University of Surrey is delighted to be launching a brand new Co-op store on campus to serve our community. Its design and delivery is a response to clear student feedback, and offers a fantastic new service for all those who are studying, living, working, and visiting the campus. Co-op is the ideal partner for our campus store, with our shared values and commitments to society and sustainability Co-op is a particularly strong fit with the values of our community and aligns well with our Surrey Institute for Sustainability and our wider campus commitments.”

Paul Stephens, Store Manager, added: “The whole team is delighted to have the opportunity to launch the new store. Our aim is to operate at the heart of campus life, we have listened to student feedback and worked to develop the range, choice and added services to create a compelling offer to serve our campus community, conveniently.”

Martin Rogers, Co-op Director of partnership development, said: “We are delighted to be working closely with The University of Surrey. Franchise is a key priority as we work to bring Co-op and the benefits of membership to new and different communities. Launching a store within a Campus environment is always an exciting development, they are vibrant and dynamic communities and we look forward to serving and supporting campus life.”

Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operatives, with its history dating back 180 years. Its Member-owners own the business and play an intrinsic part in the governance of the organisation, enjoying a wide number of benefits including member-only price savings 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

For more information about Co-op Franchise visit coop.co.uk/franchise

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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 almost 2,400 food stores, over 800 funeral homes and provides products to over 6,000 other stores, including those run by independent co-operative societies and through its wholesale business, Nisa Retail Limited. Employing 56,000 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.

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