Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op will open the UK’s first supermarket to be serviced purely by self-checkout tills at Montpellier in Cheltenham next week.

The store will also be fitted out with electronic shelf edge labels if a trial at the society’s store in Walton Street, Oxford, is a success, said chief operating officer, trading, Bill Laird.

The second store to trade under OS&G’s new Co-op Today fascia, Montpellier will also feature mini-plasma screens, new ranges of meal solutions, hot coffee to go and video and dvd hire, said Laird.

The first Co-op Today new concept store opened in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, on Tuesday.

A refurbished Alldays store, it is just four doors down from another store also owned by the society, said Laird.
“We have had to be very creative with the ranges being sold in both. Prior to ownership we competed, now we are complimenting the ranges, so all convenience products will be sold in the Today store only, while we will sell more supermarket ranges in the other store just along from it.

“Effectively we are endeavouring to sell a 5,000sq ft. store range from two distinct shops almost next door to each other.

“One management team will run both and the staff will be inter-changeable.”

Separately, the society has extended its range of locally sourced goods to more than 200 products from 15 suppliers, said Laird. “Local products will be easier to find in-store as they will be grouped and displayed together rather than offered throughout the store.”


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