Co-op to Expand Vegan Range and Online Delivery Service
Consumer cooperative the Co-op, have revealed their plans for a major online expansion plan including what is thought to be, the biggest roll-out of vegan products.
The supermarket chain has announced that in 2020, it will offer same-day online city-centre deliveries from 650 stores using low emissions transport including eco-friendly bikes.
Brighton, Bournemouth and Southampton will be among the first new cities to get the service, which is currently only available in London and Manchester. In all, Co-op’s online shop will available from around 250 stores.
CEO of Co-op Food, Jo Whitfield, commented: “At Co-op, we make it easier to get products when you need them and we stay close to our customers changing requirements.”
“We have to provide fantastic products and services with strong ethics and a purposeful focus on convenience. Our new vegan range taps into the latest consumer trends and our online services meet the growing appetite for fast home deliveries.”
The Co-op will also expand its partnership with Deliveroo, which provides on-demand delivery of convenience grocery essentials in under 30 minutes.
Ordering through Deliveroo will be extended to 400 stores, reaching around 100 major towns and cities, catering for customers who want a quick buy rather than scheduled same-day delivery.
Alongside this development, Co-op is also rolling out a new and exclusive meat-free food brand, GRO.
Featuring over 35 meat-free products and will be stocked in 2,000 Co-op stores and in up to 4,000 independent retailers through Co-op’s wholesale operation, NISA.
In addition, all Co-op’s beer and cider range will become vegan in 2020 although it already offers almost 120 vegan wines. 
The launch meets the growing demand for plant-based alternatives, as exclusive research from the Co-op’s Ethical Consumerism report reveals that the market has topped £1 Billion for the first time ever.
In just 12 months, Co-op’s findings reveal that vegetarian product sales have risen by over 12 per cent and non-dairy milk alternatives have seen a 14 per cent rise.
Taking inspiration from some of Britain’s favourite dishes to create delicious plant-based alternatives, such as the classic chilli con Carne and sticky toffee pudding, more than 35 lines in the GRO range have been created with busy and on-the-go shoppers in mind, with meal solutions for breakfast to dinner.
The new range brings lots of innovation to the plant-based category, including a vegan steak bake, a delicious Kashmiri pizza featuring cauliflower and mozzarella-style vegan cheese.
The full range of more than 35 products will be available in 300 Co-op stores across the UK.
Selected lines are already being stocked in 2,000 Co-op stores and up to 4,000 independent retailers.
