Co-op is adding six fashion concessions in September. Photo: Co-op.
Co-op is expanding its partnerships with Peacocks and Bonmarché by adding six fashion concessions inside UK food stores during September, taking their combined estate within the retailer to 20.
Peacocks is opening in Cranleigh, Surrey; Machynlleth, Powys; Kippax, Leeds; and Whitby, North Yorkshire. The four additions will bring its Co-op concession network to 13.
Bonmarché is adding branches in Lampeter, Ceredigion, and Shotts, North Lanarkshire, taking its total to seven. These follow openings earlier this year in Plympton, Hereford, Prudhoe and Stornoway. Its concession in Louth opened in 2024.
The expansion announced on 17 September gives the fashion chains access to existing grocery shopping locations. For Co-op, it adds a clothing offer without requiring the food retailer to develop its own fashion brand.
Kevin Buchan, Co-op’s head of partnerships, said the business wanted its stores to be “more than just a shop”. He said the concessions would widen local choice and create employment opportunities.
The commercial opportunity is to combine routine food shopping with purchases such as clothing, footwear and accessories. Whether the concessions increase grocery spending or repeat visits remains to be seen: the announcement did not provide sales or footfall results.
Bonmarché operates more than 225 UK stores, while Peacocks has more than 340. Co-op’s food estate exceeds 2,300 stores, putting the 20 concessions in context as a targeted partnership rather than a chain-wide rollout.
The September openings bring the new locations into operation for the autumn and winter trading season. Co-op has not announced a timetable for further concessions beyond this batch.
