Community colleagues open store

Two Lincolnshire Co-op colleagues who are dedicated to serving their local community cut the ribbon to open the retailer’s new Donington Food Store.

The local co-operative has taken over the former Co-op Group store in Donington’s Market Place, which has now opened its doors to the public after a £100,000 refit.

Barbara Rowley, a Customer Service Assistant at the food store, and Helen Clarke, a Team Leader at Lincolnshire Co-op’s nearby Donington Pharmacy officially opened the new-look facility. Both team members are well-known for their community work in the village and this was a way to recognise their efforts.

As well as being a friendly face at the food store, Barabara is a volunteer walk leader for Lincolnshire Co-op’s Wellbeing Walk in Donington and helps with the local flower festival. Helen, who has been a valued member of the team at Donington Pharmacy for over 33 years, is a member of Donington Community Centre Committee and leads the local Rainbow, Brownie and Guide troops.

Helen said that people in the village had been looking forward to seeing the Lincolnshire Co-op open.

“It feels much bigger inside now and I think people will like seeing the local ranges as well,” she said. “The fundraising for Community Champions is also good for local groups. Our Brownies and Guides have received money from the scheme before, and it really makes a difference.”

Barbara said she was proud to support the local Wellbeing Walk, which takes place every Tuesday.

“I started going on it myself and then when they needed more leaders, I volunteered. It’s great for bringing people together, and people like having a cuppa and a natter at the end too,” she said.

The store is supporting local charities through the Community Champions scheme, which sees a donation to a group made every time a member uses their dividend card, as well as money raised through collection boxes and colleague fundraising.

The Ruby Hunt Trust, which runs a pop-in centre in Donington, and Gosberton & Quadring Good Neighbour Scheme are the first Community Champions. John Elliott from the Ruby Hunt Trust and Parish, District and County Councillor Jane King came to see the store open.

Inside, the food store features an extensive choice of chilled meal options, beers and wines, fruit and veg and groceries and a range of new services and products. These include frozen restaurant-quality ready meals from Praveen Kumar, freshly baked bread from Gadsby’s bakery, and an extended food-to-go offer.

Lincolnshire Co-op sources products from its trading area through the Love Local range, and local suppliers for Donington will include Boston Sausage, Grasmere Farm, based in Market Deeping, and Taylor’s Bulbs, from Holbeach.

Lincolnshire Co-op is an independent co-operative, trading mainly in Greater Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and surrounding counties. It has a Support Centre in Lincoln.

The society is part of the same buying group as Co-op Group, sharing own-brand products, but both are separate businesses with different community support programmes, trading models, dividend cards and membership structures.

Donington Food Store Manager Shelby Handson said: “Lincolnshire Co-op is already part of Donington life thanks to our pharmacy, the work we do in the community and our nearby services in Gosberton, Swineshead and Kirton. It’s been great to see lots of Lincolnshire Co-op members come in already and we’re looking forward to signing more up so they can benefit from what we offer.

“Feedback on the store has been positive, and customers appreciate the local products we have bought in as well as the new ranges.

“We were so pleased that Barbara and Helen opened the store as they are both so well-known in the village for their community work. It’s really what we’re all about at Lincolnshire Co-op.”