Somerfield stores in Tonypandy, South Wales, and New Milton in Hampshire have become the first in the UK to be converted to The Co-operative brand following The Co-operative Group’s £1.56 billion acquisition of the supermarket chain.

Investing a total of almost £500,000 in refitting the two branches, the group invited local schoolchildren from both towns to join the celebrations and officially launch the new-look stores.

Scores of shoppers gathered outside the Tonypandy Co-operative for the launch and were welcomed by store manager Mike Lewis.

At the New Milton store, manager Dani Ruiz-Perez said customer feedback had been extremely positive and many shoppers have already become Co-operative members.

Other Somerfield supermarkets refurbished and rebranded with a total investment of £3 million include Maltby, Padiham, Worthing Broadwater, Downend in Bristol, Hedge End in the South West, and Tonyrefail and Newbridge in Wales.

The Co-operative plans to rebrand 200 of the 650 Somerfield stores by the end of the year.

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