A major shakeup in the West Wight’s supermarket situation is set to take place this autumn, as Freshwater’s Co-Op superstore is set to be sold to Tesco.
The West Wight’s largest supermarket will change hands in the next few months, subject to a number of conditions being met. The sale is expected to complete in the Autumn of this year.
Despite the Freshwater store being ‘successful’, its owner Southern Co-op says that the sale will allow it to focus on its convenience stores, including the shop in Avenue Road, which will continue to serve customers in their communities.
Opening in 2015, the Afton Road superstore replaced the former shop just across the road, which is now the home of Rapanui. At the time, it created new jobs and stocked locally produced foods. The store also supported Islanders unable to leave home during the pandemic by operating a telephone shopping service.
It’s hoped that the transition to Tesco ownership will be smooth, allowing local partners and stakeholders to minimise impacts.
Mark Smith, Chief Executive, said:
“Whilst Freshwater is a successful store, it’s our largest store and the only one that fulfils the supermarket mission alongside our other 200 convenience stores. We do our utmost to provide the very best service to our local communities and we have every expectation that Tesco will continue this service once the sale completes.
“This sale presents an opportunity for Southern Co-op to focus on our convenience estate, including our Avenue Road store in Freshwater which will continue to serve the local community.”
Article continues below this advertisement “We would like to emphasise that the decision to exit a site is never taken lightly and in no way reflects negatively on the hard work and commitment of our colleagues, especially throughout the pandemic.
“As a regional business, we remain committed to the Isle of Wight economy and communities and will continue to serve the island through our other food stores, funeral homes and our partnerships with community organisations and food and drink producers.”
It was a mistake by the CoOp to abandon the more convenient location by the mini roundabout, now the home of Rapanui, for it was a really nice store and not so far out of the village.
I hope the new Tesco will be a proper supermarket, not just another ‘convenience’ store, for we already have three of those in the area..
Convenience stores, not a main one
Excellent news, CO-OP is a rip off
All we need now is Aldi in Ventnor, they could move into where co-op is now, ideal solution.
So does Tesco run a post office?
Good point .. probably not.
Good news about co op going though !
Good point! With no other banking facility in the West Wight we’ll be stuck with the Mobile bank only twice a week and no Post Office.
Tesco’s quality is not very good. An Aldi’s would have been much better. I’m sorry to see the Co-op go.
What a load of rubbish. Aldi is crap food for poor people
Spot on
stuck up idiot
Same food not overpriced, good luck Tesco worshiper 🙂
Good riddance. Maybe now we won’t have to drive to Newport to get a decent amount of shopping at a decent price.
You can get it delivered
amount yes, but quality? nope.
Great news, now I won’t have to keep going to Ryde so often.
Oh no. bye bye local produce. in comes cheap, imported food.
I will not be shopping there once the name changes.
I am sure Tesco shares have collapsed on that news.
What’s happening with local produce then? As I don’t think Tesco sells Isle of wight products does it? As big Co op sells Isle of wight vegetables, milk, butter, cream, meat, fish, garlic farm products and more! If they do not sell this, I will be greatly disappointed. Rather pay more to support local producers than cheap food imported.
That’s ok if you have the money ?
I can remember buying Isle of Wight butter at Tesco Ryde in past, so maybe?
I think this will be a change for the good. The CoOp stock management is dreadful and I think Tesco will improve the range of products. It should save me a drive into ASDA every week!