Co-op has opened a new store in Attleborough, Norfolk, which will also act as a testbed for sustainability initiatives that could be rolled out across its wider estate.

The London Road store opened on 18 September and has created 10 local jobs, with pupils and the head teacher from nearby Rosecroft Primary School joining the launch.

Co-op said the site has been designed as a “sustainability showcase store”, giving shoppers greater visibility of environmental measures that would typically sit behind the scenes.

The store includes motion-activated fridge lighting, water-efficient fixtures, EV charging points and recycling services for coffee pods and soft plastics.

It will also be used as a “test, learn and adopt” environment for new sustainability technologies, with successful initiatives potentially scaled across Co-op’s broader store network.

Nature-focused features have also been incorporated into the site, including a wildflower meadow and bird-nesting bricks aimed at supporting local biodiversity.

An InPost locker has been installed to offer parcel collection services, which Co-op said could help reduce last-mile delivery mileage by consolidating multiple deliveries into a single location.

The new store trades from 7am to 10pm daily and stocks Co-op’s fresh and chilled ranges, bakery, hot food, Costa Coffee Express, meal deals and food-to-go, as well as beers, wines and everyday essentials.

It will also carry Co-op’s new Indian-inspired Served ready meal range, alongside its wider own-brand proposition.

Co-op area manager Alex Ball said: “We are delighted to invest in Attleborough, and proud to launch Co-op’s newest store and latest sustainability showcase location.

“We invest to create local stores which are more than just a shop, they are a hub contributing to local life and meeting the needs of communities.”

He added that the store would help demonstrate the retailer’s sustainability work “in action” as it works towards its net-zero targets.

Co-op said it has reduced greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations by 65% since 2016.

The company is targeting net zero across its own operations by 2035 and across its wider value chain by 2040.

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