Lincolnshire Co-op offers public finders fee worth thousands

Lincolnshire Co-op has announced plans to rapidly expand its food business and is asking the public to help find suitable sites.

Those who make successful suggestions will receive £5,000 upon the store’s opening.

The retailer has hopes to open around 30 new convenience shops over the next three years, increasing the number of Lincolnshire Co-op food stores by approximately a third.

Following a £1.8 million investment, Laceby Food Store, which is near Grimsby, opened in late June and is the first of many new outlets to come.

Scartho Food Store, also near Grimsby, will be the next shop to open, with an opening date planned for Thursday 31^st October.

Further south, £2.5 million is being invested into transforming a former tractor repair site on March Road in Coates, which is near Peterborough, into a Lincolnshire Co-op food store. Work began last week.

Over £10 million has already been committed into developing the next five Lincolnshire Co-op food stores.

As well as building new stores, the local co-operative is open to renovating existing buildings, taking on freehold and leasehold sites, and business acquisitions.

The retailer has expressed interest in sites within Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, and North Norfolk.

Steve Leach, Lincolnshire Co-op’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We have an ambition to be the UK’s fastest growing co-operative, and we’re keen to deliver even more valued services.

“We’re driven by our purpose, which is to make life better in our communities. Having a presence in more communities means we’re able to make even more of an impact.”

Lincolnshire Co-op shops stock a range of items, including freshly baked bread, local produce, fresh and frozen food, fruit and veg, local and chilled beers and wines.

Shoppers will also find services such as recycling bins for soft plastics, food bank collection points, battery recycling, and more.

When members shop with their dividend card, the society donates to a local good cause or group through its Community Champions scheme. Colleagues contribute by organising fundraising activities and customers can donate their change in store.

Recently, the scheme raised funds for over 200 local breakfast clubs, with the ambition to support them for the next 3 years.

This is not the only benefit to members; they also get discounts with local businesses and attractions, exclusive access to events, and collect cashback while they shop.

Children can be linked to adult members accounts, allowing them to pick up a piece of free fruit each day during school holidays; they can choose between an apple, banana, or orange.

Profits are recycled locally, enabling the co-op to support wellbeing services, such as Wellbeing Walks, which encourage communities to get together and stay fit, or Community Cuppas, which work to reduce social isolation.

The co-operative is also involved with various community projects, like Healthy Activities and Food (HAF) projects.

These are free holiday clubs for children in receipt of free school meals. Over 130 clubs shared £12,000 worth of vouchers from Lincolnshire Co-op throughout summer, enabling them to provide healthy snacks, teach kids about nutrition, and offer all who attend a healthy breakfast to start their day.

All terms and conditions of the finder’s fee, alongside further details on site specifications, can be found on the finder’s fee form: https://findournextstore.co.uk/