As convenience retail plays an ever-increasing role in supporting local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Costcutter has opened a new pop-up shop in the village of Fangfoss, North Yorkshire, to ensure local residents have easy access to everyday essential items.
Previously located in the nearby village of Dunnington, North Yorkshire - whilst the existing Costcutter store underwent an extensive refurshiment - the pop-up shop has been relocated to the village pub’s carpark in Fangfoss to deliver a convenience provision for the community.
For the people of Fangoss, essential shopping during the current crisis had been difficult due to the distance between their homes and the nearest supermarket, particularly for those individuals reliant on public transport and being advised to avoid travelling wherever possible.
Costcutter has worked with portable retail specialist Rapid Retail to deploy the 8.5m x 2.9m pop up shop, which is fully branded and fitted out in line with the group’s static stores. It offers a core range of essential products, including store cupboard staples, fresh and frozen goods, and beers, wines and spirits.
In line with Government guidelines, social distancing measures will be in place and the store will operate a one-shopper-in, one-shopper-out system. The pop-up store will also offer home delivery on orders for elderly and vulnerable customers.
Mike Hollis, Retail Director at Costcutter, said, “The Fangfoss pop-up will provide a vital shopping service for the local community and our team are working hard to ensure that elderly and vulnerable customers are able to benefit from the store, with home deliveries where possible and allocated timeslots through the week.”
Nick Daffern, Managing Director of Rapid Retail, said, “We’re delighted to have worked with Costcutter on this project. Aiding individuals and communities affected by the ongoing pandemic is crucial and for retailers pop up shops offer an effective solution.
'They can be quickly deployed and used in locations such as car parks or concourses, getting the essentials to those who need them most, while retaining the customer experience provided by static stores.”
Costcutter’s Dunnington store reopened its doors last week (28th March), following an extensive month-long transformation.
Located in the village where the convenience store group began over 33 years ago and where its headquarters are still based, the store has been completely refurbished and offers a much wider range of fresh fruit and vegetables, a new food-to-go zone including a Smoking Bean premium coffee-to-go offer, an extensive range of chilled foods and meal options and over 1,000 Co-op Own Brand products.
Whilst the store has the facility to offer hot food-to-go, during the unprecedented demand for bread at this time, the ovens are currently being used to boost freshly baked stock levels.
Hollis said, “We know that now more than ever the local convenience store is providing a much-needed hub for people to ensure they get the food and everyday essentials they need, as we adapt to the current situation and adhere to Government guidelines to help us all stay safe.”
Many Costcutter stores across the country – both company-owned and those operated by the group’s independent retailers – are offering a raft of support to shoppers during the coronavirus crisis, from offering free delivery to elderly and vulnerable customers, to call and collect orders for NHS workers.
