The Heart of England Co-operative Society has appointed Peter Fletcher as general manager of food.

Fletcher has worked at the society for 26 years and will be responsible for its 33-strong network of Foodcentres and Lateshops in Coventry, Warwickshire and south Leicestershire.

"These are very exciting and challenging times for the food division," he said. "We are in the midst of a re-fit programme. Our Earlsdon store has already been refurbished and re-branded under the new The Co-operative brand, and we will be bringing all our stores up to scratch in the coming years."