Co-op
| Often accompanied by: | Costa Express |
| Used by: | Roadchef, EG On The Move |
| Predecessors: | Somerfield, Texaco, Total, SPAR |
| Successors: | Asda Express, Budgens, SPAR |
| See also: | Texaco |
The Co-operative Group's branding is known across the UK, and it has interacted with service stations in many forms, creating mini-markets with very different stylings.
& Co-op
The brand name & Co-op (usually written in the format "Roadchef & Co-op" or "Norton Canes & Co-op") is used at some Roadchef motorway service areas, replacing their SPAR franchises.
This partnership followed Nisa Retail merging with Co-op, allowing them to re-brand as Co-op Wholesale in March 2025. Roadchef announced in April that they would be working with Co-op Wholesale, with the first store officially opening at Norton Canes on 5 June.
The & Co-op brand is described as "high end" and is intended to be reserved for "strategic partnerships". It has an emphasis on 'food for now' and premium 'food for later' ranges, as well as Roadchef's usual vending machines, such as Costa Express. It will be appearing at some other petrol stations.
The branding of the stores is interesting. Almost all motorway shops are operated under a franchise and/or supply agreement. Naming it "Roadchef & Co-op" and calling it a "collaboration" is not just trendy, it's actually being more honest about how the store works: it's Roadchef's shop with Co-op products, welcoming those who like the Co-op brand name as well as those who are looking for something that doesn't look like a major brand.
Co-op Food
Co-op merged with Somerfield in March 2009, causing them to inherit a number of stores at petrol stations, as well as the slightly unusual shop positioned within Blackburn with Darwen services on the M65. The Blackburn site was their only appearance on the motorway for a while, until it was sold in 2016.
These stores were originally branded 'The Co-operative Food', with a green colour scheme. The name was shortened to 'Co-op Food' and the colour changed to blue in 2016.
Two sites in Kent were rebranded as Welcome, a new name for franchised Southern Co-op sites, in 2019. These were replaced by Budgens in 2021.
The Co-operative Group agreed that new operator EG On The Move could use Co-op branding and products at their forecourts, starting with a trial at seven sites, mostly positioned away from the major road network.
Co-op Petrol
Many of the Somerfield stores were attached to Texaco petrol stations. Starting in 2017, these were re-branded Co-op Petrol.
Co-op Petrol sites were sold to Asda in August 2022. Asda began to rebrand them in October.
Locations
& Co-op stores can be found at some motorway service areas. They are:
- Norton Canes (M6 Toll)
A-road Locations
Co-op Food stores can be found at the following signposted service areas: [view on a map - Download KML]
- Cirencester (A417)
- Cornwall (A30)
- Galley's Corner (A120)
Former Locations
Co-op Food and/or Petrol used to operate at the following signposted service areas:
- Barrow (A59)
- Beechings Way (A289)
- Blackburn with Darwen (M65)
- Bobbing Corner (A249)
- Buckbarn (A24)
- Evesham (A46)
- Kingsham (A27)
- Minster (A299)
- Moor Farm (A19)
- Polegate (A22/A27)
- Ringwood (A31)
- Springfields (A16)
- Solstice (A303)
- Skipbridge (A59)
- Spaceways (A1237)
- Stockbridge (A27)
- West Wellow (A36)
- Willowtree (A1)
- Woodhouse (A171)