Co-op Central to close stores in Cromer and Sprowston

The move comes as Central Co-op announced it would be selling 19 “unsustainable” food stores across the country, including three that will be leased to budget retailer B&M.

The Co-op in Middlebrook Way, Cromer, will be taken over by B&M, while the Co-op in Chartwell Road, Sprowston, will be sold to Samy Limited. 

The Central Co-op store in Cromer (Image: Google Maps) Samy Limited currently runs 32 Budgens, Spar, Londis and Premier stores across the UK but it has not yet been revealed what kind of store will be introduced at the Chartwell Road site.

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The transfer is to be completed within six months, with the chain confident that affected colleagues would be provided with alternative employment opportunities.

The Central Co-op store in Sprowston (Image: Google Maps) Central Co-op CEO Debbie Robinson said: “It’s always difficult to sell any store but what we’re constantly doing is looking at the financial viability and these stores had been struggling for some time.

“We didn’t see the growth potential to justify capital expenditure for investment.

“We’re committed to putting the welfare of our colleagues first when making these tough choices."