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Co operative Travel Burton 51

Central England Co-operative to transfer 16 travel branches to Midcounties Co-operative

Co-operative Travel, the retail travel division of Midcounties Co-operative, plans to enter an agreement with the Central England Co-operative, and transfer 16 of its travel branches and employees to Co-operative Travel.

The transfer is still in the consultation process and the stores are expected to reopen by mid-August.

The 16 branches to be transferred to Midcounties Co-operative include Allenton (Derbyshire), Atherstone (Warwickshire), Beccles and Lowestoft (Suffolk), Castle Donington, Glenfield, Ibstock and Whetstone (Leicestershire), Diss, Kings Lynn and Thetford (Norfolk), Erdington (West Midlands), Market Deeping (Lincolnshire), Oakham (Rutland), March and Peterborough (Cambridgeshire). The stores have been supporting 25,000 customers over the last 12 months.

All branches transferring from Central England Co-operative will use a new customer appointment system, that has been implemented in all of Midcounties? Co-operative Travel stores, since their reopening. Most of Midcounties? existing Co-operative Travel branches have re-opened after the lockdown, with the remaining stores scheduled to open on July 13. 

Rad Sofronijevic, chief operating officer of Midcounties Co-operative?s travel division, said: ?These have been extraordinary times for the whole travel sector, but with lockdown measures easing, we are well placed to grow from strength to strength. Travel is core to Midcounties? long-term strategy and when we learned that the Central England Co-operative was looking to emphasise its focus on other divisions, and move away from Travel, we wanted to take the opportunity to bring these branches under the Midcounties retail umbrella and further strengthen our offering. With our scale and expertise, we look forward to helping the branches and nurture them enough to ensure their success in the future.?

A spokesperson for Central England Co-operative said: ?Central England and Midcounties have a longstanding and positive relationship with Central England recently joining Midcounties? travel buying consortium, following the demise of Thomas Cook. The coming together of the two businesses will enable the continuation of a Co-operative travel offer for our members and customers, and the continued employment for a number of colleagues."

Natalie Turner, head of branches for Co-operative Travel, said: ?I am delighted that we will soon welcome these additional branches to our portfolio. The branches are well located and allow Midcounties? Co-operative Travel to expand our presence across several new counties in England.

?We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues into the fold, helping them to navigate the new normal in travel and grow and succeed under Midcounties? retail Co-operative Travel umbrella,? she added.



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