Your Co-op Food Continues Heritage of Convenience Shopping in Worcestershire Village

Your Co-op Food has opened its doors to a new store this week (22^nd November) in Areley Kings, Worcestershire, continuing in the footsteps of local legend Jim Perry who began a rich history of providing convenience shopping within the local community.

Jim Perry, also known as Mr Stourport, opened a village shop on Areley Common in 1956 with ambitions to serve his local community with a purpose-designed village store. Almost 50 years later, at the age of 78, he fulfilled his ambition, opening a bigger local shopping experience and post office across the road from his original shop. Dedicating his life to serving his community, he went on to become the youngest-ever Chairman of the Stourport Urban District Council.

Your Co-op Food is now continuing this legacy by providing quality convenience shopping for the community on the very same site of the historic family business. Having sadly passed away in July 2020, Jim’s dedication and commitment to the local area will be remembered with a plaque dedicated to his memory which has been installed on the store front.

The Your Co-op Food store will offer essential grocery items, from fruit and vegetables, fresh meat and flowers to a range of wines, spirits and chilled beers – including local ales and ciders, as well as Co-op's own-brand range of sustainably sourced and Fairtrade products. It will also remain the home to the village’s Post Office.

A soft plastic recycle unit will be available to enable shoppers to recycle items such as crisp packets and pet food pouches, which cannot usually be placed in kerbside recycling bins.

As part of Your Co-op Food’s ongoing commitment to giving back to the local community, a food bank collection point will also be available, allowing customers to donate a range of essential items needed by families in the local area.

Your Co-op Food is part of The Midcounties Co-operative, which is one of the largest independent societies and UK co-operatives. Last year the Society donated more than £140,000 to support over 300 local charities and community groups within the communities they serve.

Customers at the new store will have the option of becoming a member of the Society, giving them access to a range of exclusive member- only offers across Your Co-op family of services, whilst also giving back to the community every time you shop – from buying a pint of milk to booking a holiday, we’re doing good together.

Dean Pulpett, store manager at Your Co-op Food Areley Kings, said: “When you hear about Jim Perry’s dedication to this community, it makes us proud and excited to be continuing in his footsteps as part of the rich heritage of the site’s original village shop so many years ago.

We are investing further in the local area, serving and supporting the community by providing convenience, quality choice, as well as opportunities to do good together. We can’t wait to welcome customers and members through our doors.”

The £200,000 investment in the Areley Kings store is part of The Midcounties Co-operative’s ongoing commitment to food retail which saw the Society invest more than £3.5 million in seven new store openings last year.

The stores’ opening hours will be extended to 7am to 10pm every day throughout the week.

The Midcounties Co-operative operates the Your Co-op family of services, covering more than 225 Your Co-op Food stores across the West Midlands, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The Society also trade nationally through its Your Co-op Travel, Your Co-op Childcare, Your Co-op Energy and Your Co-op Broadband and Mobile businesses.

To join in and become a member of The Midcounties Co-operative, visit your nearest Your Co-op Food store or find out more on the website.