Co-op and EG are On The Move in new forecourt sites | Scottish Grocer & Convenience Retailer

Three new forecourt sites to launch in Scotland

A FRANCHISE agreement between the Co-op and EG On The Move will see seven new forecourt sites open across the UK, with three set for Scotland.

The move forms part of Co-op’s wider franchise growth plans as it announces the ambition to have over 500 franchise stores by 2030, with a third of these set to be petrol forecourt stations.

Jermone Saint-Marc, managing director for B2B and growth at Co-op, said: “We are hugely excited to be working with EG On The Move on these new franchise sites and to be able to bring our Co-op Franchise offer to more locations.

“This is part of our broader expansion in the petrol forecourt market. It follows our strategy to pivot our growth in this market through franchise, growing our presence and enabling us to best utilise our experience and offer in convenience.”

The first Co-op store as part of the agreement is set to launch in Doncaster this month with plans for a further six openings, three of which are in Scotland.

The Scottish locations include Nitshill, Glasgow; Portlethen, Aberdeen; and Macmerry, Tranent, East Lothian.

This will kick off Co-op’s ambitious growth plans across the whole of the UK which aims to franchise the convenience retail chain across a range of sectors including petrol forecourts, universities and healthcare sites as well as to independent convenience retailers.

Zuber Issa, chief executive at EG On The Move, said: “EG On The Move is an acknowledged petrol forecourt and convenience retail destination operator, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with Co-op to roll out their new convenience store formats.

“Following on from this seven store trial, we look forward to working with Co-op to consider other locations across the network.”

Martin Rogers, director of partnership development at Co-op, said: “We are delighted to be working with EG On The Move, our second forecourt partners, helping us achieve our ambitious plans in this exciting sector.

“We look forward to further growing our franchise business, working with partners of pedigree to bring Co-op products and membership to more communities, creating more value for our member-owners.”