Retailer Sivathasan Kailasapillai is set invest £2 million and open five new Co-op stores over the next four months.
The stores will be added to Kailasapillai’s portfolio. By the end of summer, he will have eight stores across the UK.
The retailer will hold locations in Barking, Dewsbury, Westhoughton, Northolt, Wakefield, Andover, Ripon and Thornton by the end of summer.
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“The Co-op model has the capability to support me and my stores across the country and makes it easy for them to just run on their own,” said Kailasapillai.
“I care deeply about the quality of products I can offer my customers, as well as paying a fair price to the people behind the products so have many alignments with Co-op and their values.
“As a retailer I know the role I can play in the community, and I know by working with Co-op and I can do even more for them and help support those than need it.”
Co-op head of new channels Martin Rogers added: “We’re looking for the right retailers in the right locations who share our values and principles to grow with us and we are delighted that Siva has chosen Co-op to be his franchise partner.
“He’s already at the heart of so many communities and we’re really excited to see how his estate continues to grow and thrive and how our partnership develops.”
Kailasapillai started out his career in retail as a supermarket manager in 2000.
He went on to open his first independent grocer in 2005 in Chiswick and opened his first franchise Co-op store last year in Barking.
