THE East of England Co-operative Society is continuing its multi-million pound investment programme with the opening of two new stores in Ipswich, with other expansions and refurbishments planned around the region.

THE East of England Co-operative Society is continuing its multi-million pound investment programme with the opening of two new stores in Ipswich, with other expansions and refurbishments planned around the region.

The society has acquired the former Balfour News store on Norwich Road, Ipswich, from the Manchester based Co-operative Group, and reopened it under the East of England Co-op Foodstore brand.

And on May 24, the society will also be opening a new £1.8million Foodstore at Ravenswood, Ipswich; the first unit to open at the new Greenways Neighbourhood Centre.

The two openings follow shortly after the completion of improvements at the Foodstore in Penshurst Road, Ipswich, the upgrading of the Great Cornard store and major refurbishment of the Foodstore in Bramford, which also included the introduction of a new post office. Work also continues on a major extension to the co-op supermarket at the Rosehill Centre, Ipswich, due to be completed later this year.

In the south of the region, the local food store at Spa Road, Witham, has recently been improved and a major redevelopment is underway at Peartree Road, Colchester. Costing in the region of £10 million this significant project will see the creation of a retail centre and a new Fiveways Supermarket, to replace the existing store on the site.

Richard Samson, chief executive designate of the East of England Co-op, said: “Our multi-million pound development programme is continuing and we hope to announce further expansion plans shortly. Our refurbished food and department stores are performing well and are benefiting from the investment that we are making to provide modern and convenient shops for our customers and members.”