05/25/2012 (press release: Online PR) // Dan Adey
The Midcounties Co-op Travel has bought seven shops from the Thomas Cook Co-operative Travel joint venture. The 26 people based there will also move to Midcounties as part of the deal.
The branches at Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Coventry, Acocks Green and Kingstanding in Birmingham and Beeston in Nottinghamshire closed on 4 May and re-opened under their new ownership.
They will all be rebranded as Co-operative Travel and join Midcounties’ growing network as it continues on the acquisitions trail in its aim to become one of the best independent travel retailers in the country.
Sue Reid, General Manager, Distribution, said: “We see a real opportunity to expand our High Street presence in areas which fit our strategy for growth. The seven branches will not only allow us to widen our geographical spread in the Midlands but also to welcome experienced colleagues who will be assets to our business.
“We know the Co-operative and the values it stands for is an important and trusted brand for many people. We look forward to building our customer base in these seven locations.”
The shops were being closed following a network review after the merger of Thomas Cook, Co-operative Group and Midlands Co-operative.
Midcounties is keen to build up its network of branches and is looking to extend its trading territory.
It is investigating potential targets which fit its business plan. It has also stated its aims to open branches around East Midlands Airport and to build on links with Birmingham and Bristol Airports.
– ENDS –
The seven branches are at
Beeston, 46 High Street (formerly Thomas Cook)
Acocks Green, 1146 Warwick Road (formerly Midlands Co-op Travel)
Kingstanding, Unit 27 The Kingstanding Centre (formerly Midlands Co-op Travel)
Sutton Coldfield, 82 The Parade (formerly Midlands Co-op Travel)
Solihull, 82 High Street (formerly Midlands Co-op Travel)
Lichfield, 34 Bakers Lane (formerly Midlands Co-op Travel)
Coventry, 4 Bull Yard (formerly The Co-operative Travel)
Notes to Editors
About the Midcounties Co-operative
The Midcounties Co-operative has its headquarters in Warwickshire, with trading outlets in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire and the surrounding counties.
The Society’s trading groups are food retail, funeral, travel, pharmacy, childcare nurseries, employee benefits and energy. The Midcounties Co-operative is the largest independent co-operative society in the UK and has more than 470 branches, and 245,000 active trading members. It is in The Sunday Times Best 100 Companies To Work For list for the second year running.
The Society’s mission statement is ‘To be a successful consumer co-operative working towards creating a better, fairer world, and to enhance the lives of our colleagues, members, customers, and the communities we serve’.
About Co-operative Travel
Co-operative Travel offer a variety of holidays, flights and hotels. They are providers of package holidays, cheap ski holidays for that winter break or turkey holidays for some summer sun.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 as the International Year of Co-operatives, highlighting the contribution of co-operatives to socio-economic development, particularly their impact on poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. The Year will highlight the strengths of the co-operative business model as an alternative means of doing business and furthering socio-economic development.
For more information, please contact:
Dan Adey
Dan.adey@cooptravel.co.uk
01922 700048
Visit: http://www.cooptravel.co.uk/
Social Media Tags:package holidays, cheap ski holidays, turkey holidays
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