Southern Co-op, a regional co-operative in the UK, has entered into its first franchise partnership with popular bakery chain Wenzel’s.

The collaboration forms part of Southern Co-op’s strategy to meet the growing retail demand for food-to-go (FTG) in high footfall locations, while also marking Wenzel’s debut in the franchise space.

Nick Smith, Central Services Director at Southern Co-op, said: “We’re incredibly excited to partner with Wenzel’s as they take their first step into franchising.

“This partnership represents a powerful alignment of values – great food, great service and a great opportunity to grow. We’re confident that this is only the beginning of a successful journey together.”

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The first franchise store is expected to open in Guildford in early September.

Southern Co-op and Wenzel’s plan to expand the number of stores across the UK following the initial launch.

Sarah Wenzel, CEO of Wenzel’s, said: “We’re delighted that Southern Co-op have chosen to be our franchise partner and are confident that our collaborative partnership will be mutually beneficial and rewarding in the coming year.”

“Southern Co-op is a business that has consistently put the community first, and with this shared vision of offering high-quality food for all, we’re in a strong position to bring delicious, freshly baked goods at accessible prices to even more customers across the UK.”

Meanwhile, Co-op grew its FTG offerings by launching Express Cuisine’s Halal-certified range recently.