The group launched its On The Go concept on 31 July last year in Solihull, offering a range of food and drink to-go options for different dayparts.
These included breakfast meal boxes, a lunchtime deli selection, and Co-op pizzas cooked in-store on demand. The launch marked a departure from its traditional convenience store format as it sought to take on the foodservice sector.
In December, the group fitted elements of the concept into five existing convenience stores – located across Leeds, Yorkshire and London – alongside its wider grocery offer. It had planned to launch 15 variations of the concept by the end of last year, either standalone or as retro-fitted sites, and several hundred more by 2028.
Co-op has now confirmed it had taken the decision to close the five standalone locations following a review of their longer-term viability, according to The Grocer. The sites closed in August.
Co-op says that the concept worked well as an integrated format within its existing convenience stores and will continue to operate the concept within the five retro-fitted sites. It is also is seeking more stores to integrate it this way.
