The Co-Op (Co-Op)

Member Name: chris212

Product:	Co-Op
Date:	15/08/09 (73 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheaper than some of its rivals such as the Spar

Disadvantages: Still more expensive than its supermarket rivals

The Co Op is a store that is whole owned by its members and is stated as not a profit business that is still responsible to its shareholders but with a difference, as it only answers to its own consumers. The image that is portrayed by the store is one of a wholesome family business.

The Co Op, like the Spar is a convenience store, as it management took the decision during a root and branch review not to take on the big supermarkets but aim at the low end of the market. This means that stores are more likely to be seen in more urban areas than a typical out of town supermarket.

There are a wide range of stores that are operated by the Co Op, such as pharmacies, legal and travel, but the most regularly seen type of store is the food grocery stores, this is the type of store that is near me.

The types of products that are sold within the store are the usual items such as tinned goods, fresh goods such as milk and bread, alcohol products and the normal cleaning products. While it may be good and convenient to have these products within easy reach than having to travel to the larger supermarkets, you do pay for this convenience. As prices are higher than supermarkets.

But what I have found is the Co Op store is cheaper than its main rivals such as Spar, as where I live the stores are situated right next to each other. But while it is cheaper than its main rivals it is still expensive than the bigger supermarkets. Such as example is the price of milk in the store, in a supermarket a four pint would be about £1.50, where as in the Co Op it is about £1.68. While the difference may not sound like a lot, it does add up if one was to shop there daily or weekly when compare to the supermarkets.

One problem that I do have is with the size of the store that is near me, it is neither a small store or a large store, this means that the store only provide smallish baskets, which can be a pain if you are purchasing a large amount of products. As it is extremely difficult to carry the products to the till.

In terms of the staff at the store, what I have found with the Co Op, like many convenience stores the staff that are employed at the store are all local people. What this means is that the people that work at the store are help, for the main reason that I know most of them.

Overall I believe that the Co Op store is better than other convenience stores but there are still problems with the store. The biggest of which is the cost of the products within the store, as I see no reason why one store such as the Co Op should charge higher price than a supermarket that is just down the road, other than to use the advantage that some people can travel to the supermarket, or the fact that it is the only type store that is open on a Sunday after 4 o'clock.

Summary: Ok store, but would still not recommend unless your stuck