New Co-op store opens at West Way in Botley

Co-op Midcounties has opened the doors to its brand new £1.6m 'eco-friendly' food store, with hundreds of products from local producers on the shelves.

The Botley Development Company, a joint venture between Mace Developments and Doric Properties, has been working on the shopping centre development, which is due for completion later this year.

As well as new shops at West Way Square, there will be a new Premier Inn hotel, student flats, new apartments and offices. A Tesco Express is also opening.

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The developer’s website said: “West Way Square will include a selection of restaurants, cafés and convenience stores catering for the local community, residents, students and hotel guests with everything from everyday essentials to tasty treats.”

The 10,000sq ft Co-op store in the square is a showcase for the region’s food and drink industry, with 710 products from 130 local suppliers on the shelves, alongside a wide range of grocery essentials.

Botley resident Jacquie Pearce-Gervis said: “The new Co-op is a great improvement - of course the development is not finished yet but this is a definite sign of progress.”

Products from Oxfordshire producers include beer from Tap Social Movement, which is a social enterprise employing people who have been through the criminal justice system; 'premium' meats from Aldens Butchers, artisan bread from Hobbs House Bakery; cheeses from Oxford Cheese Co and gin from The Oxford Artisan Distillery.

The Co-op has also created 10 new jobs.

There will be an in-store bakery, a free water dispenser where customers can refill their own bottle and a self-service deli counter, as well as a branch of Costa Coffee, a National Lottery terminal and a Post Office, which opens from August 4.

The new store also has a refill station, designed to reduce single-use plastics by offering customers the opportunity to buy products using a reusable container of their own, or purchased in store.

The supermarket said its Botley store had been built to 'the latest environmental specifications, including state-of-the-art energy efficient refrigerators'.

Co-op Midcounties member will be able to enjoy a free cup of coffee every time they shop.

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Store manager Donna Hunter said: “Co-op Midcounties has had a store in Botley for 20 years, but we’ve been serving the community from a temporary store for the last two years so this site could be redeveloped.

“We’re especially proud of the products we’ve been able to source from some amazing local producers in Oxfordshire and its neighbouring counties for our The Best of Our Counties range.

"It supports local businesses, helps cut food miles and it means our customers know that the products are sustainably sourced."

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The store’s opening hours are Monday to Saturday 7am-10 pm, and 10am-4pm on Sundays.