Co-op has closed all of its standalone On The Go stores less than a year after launching the food-to-go concept, ending an experiment that aimed to create a new network of dedicated convenience locations across the UK.
The retailer opened its first On The Go store in Solihull on July 31 before expanding into Altrincham, Kingston upon Thames, Aylesbury, and Chelmsford. The sites offered customers a selection of takeaway food and drinks designed around different parts of the day, including breakfast options, lunchtime products, and freshly prepared meals.
The closures mark a change in direction for the retailer’s approach to food-to-go growth. Instead of standalone sites, Co-op now plans to focus on integrating the concept into its existing convenience stores.
Co-op Moves Away From Standalone Stores
The standalone locations closed in August following a review of their long-term viability. The original ambition had been to create hundreds of standalone or in-store micro-stores across the UK by 2028.
According to The Grocer, Co-op found that the On The Go format performed better when added to existing stores rather than operating as separate locations.
The retailer had already begun testing this approach in December by introducing elements of the concept into five existing stores across Leeds, Yorkshire, and London. Those locations remain open and continue operating with the adapted format.
A Co-op spokesperson said the company’s focus was on developing convenience retail through testing and learning quickly.
“Where we have retro-fitted the new concept into our existing stores, we see strong, successful and sustainable opportunities to further elevate and grow the new proposition, combining breakfast, lunch and dinner on the go alongside the convenience of Co-op’s broader grocery range in existing high-footfall locations.”
© Shutterstock
Food-To-Go Format Tested Across UK Locations
The On The Go stores were designed around customers looking for quick meal solutions throughout the day. Their ranges included breakfast meal boxes, deli selections for lunch, and Co-op Irresistible pizzas prepared in-store to order.
The format reflected a wider shift among convenience retailers toward ready-to-eat meals and flexible shopping options. The trial allowed Co-op to test how customers responded to dedicated food-focused spaces compared with traditional convenience stores.
The retailer’s decision suggests it will continue developing food-to-go services but within locations that already attract regular customer traffic.
The five standalone stores that closed were located in:
- Altrincham
- Chelmsford
- Solihull
- Aylesbury
- Kingston upon Thames
Co-op Faces Wider Cost Pressures
The decision comes as Co-op faces financial challenges and reviews spending across the business.
The retailer recently reported losses worth millions of pounds during the first half of the year and announced plans to reduce costs by £200 million. Hundreds of jobs are at risk as part of those efforts, although interim chief executive Kate Allum did not provide a specific number of roles affected across the company’s workforce of around 54,000 employees.
Allum linked rising expenses to increased employment costs affecting retailers across the sector.
Allum said: “That is the reality check of the cost of employment going up over the last three years for all of the retail industry.”
Future Growth Focuses On Existing Co-op Stores
Co-op said it will continue looking for opportunities to add the On The Go proposition to more of its existing locations, particularly stores with strong customer traffic.
The move represents a shift from building a separate network of food-to-go outlets toward expanding services within the retailer’s established convenience estate.
The five standalone Co-op On The Go stores that opened in Solihull, Altrincham, Kingston upon Thames, Aylesbury, and Chelmsford have now closed.
