Co-op has just launched a new grocery delivery service in Manchester city centre that’s running 24-hours a day.
In a bid to “respond to growing demand” for quick and easily-accessible groceries from consumers, such as shift workers, parents of young families, and late-night revellers in particular, the supermarket retailer has decided to begin offering 24-hour grocery delivery services in three major city centres – London, Leeds, and of course, Manchester.
It comes after new research from Co-op apparently shows that more than 40% of online shoppers would use an 11pm to 5am delivery service if it was available.
This figure then rises to around almost one in two consumers who are aged between 18-44, with the service believed to be most popular for Gen Z shoppers aged 18-24 (52.3%) out of everyone.
Co-op has launched a 24-hour grocery delivery service in Manchester city centre / Credit: Co-op (via Flickr)
he new research also revealed than an estimated six million UK adults believe the main reason they would use the extended 24-hour service if it was available to them would be due to their work pattern or their shifts.
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Co-op says it’s launching the new service this month in places where there is strong online grocery demand at “non-traditional times”.
Stores have been selected based on the local demographic, a concentration of delivery driver availability, and where the premises is already staffed around the clock for replenishment purposes.
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Groceries will be delivered through Uber Eats, Just Eat, and Deliveroo / Credit: Co-op (via Flickr)
Groceries will be delivered through Co-op’s e-commerce partners Uber Eats, Just Eat, and Deliveroo.
”Meeting the needs of our customers is at the heart of our approach,” explained Chris Conway, who is Co-op’s E-Commerce Director, as the new 24-hour service was announced.
“We focus on ease, speed, and convenience from our local stores, which are well placed in the heart of communities, and as societal behaviours including changing lifestyles and shift working are increasing, so is the requirement for online groceries to be delivered quickly and conveniently at non-traditional times of the day.”
Featured Image – Jon Super (via Co-op)
Shopping
One of Manchester’s biggest vintage shops to close after a decade
Daisy Jackson
One of the biggest and best vintage shops in Manchester has announced its imminent closure.
Thrift Shop, which is part of the legendary Cow Vintage family, has said that the landlord of its store has ‘chosen not to renew our lease’.
The beloved vintage shop has been in its spot just off Piccadilly Gardens for a decade, with colourful rails stuffed with pre-loved denim, coats, dresses, accessories, and more.
Ahead of its closure this week, Thrift Shop has announced details of a major closing down sale, aiming to get rid of all its stock.
Initially touted as two for £10 on all thrift items, they’ve now slashed prices even further and are offering three items for £10.
That does exclude their ‘premium’ items, where you can snap up big labels like Carhartt and Levi’s.
Sharing the sad news of its closure online, Thrift Shop Manchester wrote: “We are gutted to announce the closure of beloved Manchester store.
Thrift Shop Manchester is throwing a huge closing down sale
“Last week we found out our landlord chose not to renew our lease after over ten years in this unit.
“To bid our farewell, we’re doing a MASSIVE closing down sale to get rid of all stock !!!! All Thrift items will be 2 for £10 until our last trading day on 30th May!!
“We’ve absolutely loved serving you for all these years, so long, farewell and, as always, get thrifty.”
In the comments, fellow independent retailer Thunder Egg – which just had to move out of its Oldham Street store (but is still in Afflecks) – commented: “So sorry to hear this, retail landlords in Manchester are absolutely in their sh*tbag era right now.”
Thrift Shop Manchester will close for good on Saturday 30 May.
Demolition and regeneration plans for former Manchester shopping centre to begin next month
Emily Sergeant
Plans to demolish and regenerate a former shopping centre in a Manchester suburb are set to kick off from next month.
Following planning approval at the end of 2025, major plans to transform the former Chorlton Cross Shopping Centre into a ‘thriving’ new destination to live and shop are set to commence with demolition in the next couple of weeks.
If you’re unfamiliar with the plans for the new Chorlton neighbourhood, they include 262 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, all with access to outdoor space through balconies and gardens, 53 affordable homes – with 49 of them being available for social rent – and around 3,500 sq metres of public open space with fully walkable routes and outdoor seating areas.
A mix of flexible retail spaces, including a new ‘Makers Yard’ suitable for smaller start-up businesses will also be included, alongside new tree planting.
Phase one of the project will involve the dismantling the former shopping centre and neighbouring Graeme House buildings.
According to developers, the first step will be to close the precinct car park at the end of this month, before new hoardings are installed around the site to close the area off to pedestrians and vehicles for safety reasons.
The demolition work is expected to begin in mid-June, and be completed by August.
Where possible, materials from the existing buildings will be reused during construction of the new neighbourhood in a bid to help reduce the number of vehicles needed to remove materials from the site.
“Demolition marks another major milestone for the project, which will completely transform the former shopping centre,” commented Georgina Lynch, who is the managing director at Manchester-based developers, PJ Livesey.
“Our demolition contractor will carefully manage any issues throughout the work, and we will continue to stay in regular contact with local residents and businesses as the demolition progresses.”
Emily Sergeant -
26th September 2024 
