The Co-operative Group is to extend its trial of a Welcome format for small c-stores. The concept was unveiled at a former CRS outlet in Kingston in south London earlier this year. Ranging at the 1,100 sq ft store was changed so that 65% of what it sells is chilled. And the society's retail controller Malcolm Hepworth said initial results were encouraging, with sales productivity at the store jumping from £19 to £30/sq ft as a result. "We are getting very good returns. But this has brought its own problems ­ because the store is very busy." He said more work would be done on ranging, particularly on ambient products, to ensure the offer fully reflected the customer profile. He said Kingston was an "upmarket format" aimed at cash rich, time poor shoppers. Hepworth insisted the society was not getting carried away by the success of the pilot but confirmed it was planning to test out the new format in an empty unit and at another existing outlet ­ both within the London area. Hepworth said when the results were in from these trials, the society would be able to decide whether the format could be rolled out. The society prefers to operates c-stores in the 2,500 sq ft size and above. However, such stores are difficult to find, prompting the trial in Kingston. lThe Co-operative Group is to start selling non food, especially kitchenware, in its smaller stores. The products will be stocked in larger Welcome and Market Town formats ­ those bigger than 3,500sq ft. {{NEWS }}

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