Co-op has opened its newest store, located on the new Spring Acres residential development in the village of Bapchild in Kent.

The store is intended to be a community hub and focal point of local life, according to the retailer. It will open from 6am-10pm, offering convenience store staples such as fresh and chilled produce, an in-store bakery and food-to-go deals, and everyday essentials.

It will also provide added services including an InPost parcel locker, Costa Coffee Express Machine, hot food, payment services and home delivery services for online orders via Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo.

A soft plastic recycling facility and customer parking is also provided.

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“The whole team is delighted to have the opportunity to launch Co-op’s newest store. We are proud to become part of the local community, and we are committed to ensuring that the store is a community hub and part of local life. The store looks great, and has a range of added services to serve and support the community, conveniently. We pride ourselves on being able to deliver the quality, choice and value which can be enjoyed by everyone, and are really looking forward to welcoming customers into their new local Co-op,” said Co-op area operations manager Paul Hoskins.

Spring Acres is a community of mainly affordable homes, developed through a partnership between home builders Hyde and Chartway Group.

“We’re delighted to be welcoming Co-op to our thriving Spring Acres community. As a focal point to the development, we hope that Co-op’s successful new store will be well supported by both our residents and the wider community. Hyde prides itself on creating homes that are both sustainable and convenient, and the store will certainly help to underpin our aspirations of providing homes in places where people want to live,” said Hyde development director Jaime Buckley.