THE Co-operative food store in Bridge Street, Usk, is to close this weekend to embark on a major six-figure investment to transform the store for the community.

The store will close at 4pm on Saturday 8th August, when the makeover will begin.

Changes will focus on improvements to the bakery range, fresh and healthy foods, chilled produce and essentials.

To cover the community while the store is closed, Co-operative pop-up shops will be set up.

These mobile kiosks will be open between 8am-8pm from Sunday 9th August until the new-look store opens on Friday 21st August. These pop-up shops will have more than 120 of Usk’s most bought products.

The Usk store will also launch its Community Pioneer role, where a member of the store team will work to foster involvement in community activities – from local fundraising initiatives to helping to understand and develop solutions to meet community needs.

Taking place on the day of the shop’s re-opening, the first community event to be held at the new-look Co-op will be a roadshow organised in conjunction with Diabetes UK and Weatherhead Shop Design.

The free “Know Your Risk” Roadshow, held in memory of a former colleague, will help people to find out their risk of getting Type 2 diabetes, obtain valuable information about how to reduce it and, provide information on eating well and being active for people at risk and also those living with the condition.

Alyson Meade, manager of The Co-operative food store in Usk, said: “We are delighted to be making such a significant investment in our Usk store – the new-look store will look great and it really is an exciting time for the whole team.

“We are also pleased to work with Diabetes UK and Weatherhead Shop Design to organise and host a diabetes Roadshow event in the memory of our former colleague, Lisa.  

“It’s a significant day with our new-look store re-opening and, as a community retailer, we thought it presented the perfect opportunity to raise awareness and bring practical advice and valuable information about the condition to the community.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers while our store closes for its makeover.

“However, I am confident that our new-look store will be a real asset to the community – enabling shoppers to pick up delicious food conveniently and, as a community retailer and a co-operative, it will play its part locally too.

“The Co-operative is committed to transforming and growing its convenience business, investing to enhance the in-store experience for our customers, while lowering the price of everyday essentials.”