Rootes Grocery Store set to transform into Co-op franchise

Rootes Grocery Store is set to be replaced by a new Co-op franchise store in time for the new academic year.

According to Warwick Food Group, the new store “will conveniently serve up an extensive range of quality, fresh, healthy produce, Fairtrade products, and everyday essentials alongside a strong focus on world food covering South Asian, East Asian, Eastern European, North American & Caribbean, Halal and Mediterranean cuisines”.

Rootes Grocery Store, which first opened in January 2015 after replacing Costcutter, has long been subject to student grumblings amidst the cost-of-living crisis, despite the convenient location of the store for students of all years.

When the plans for Rootes were first unveiled in 2014, one student told The Boar: “I’m excited about the new grocery store because Costcutter was so overpriced. If it means I can shop here instead of walking all the way to Tesco I’ll be the happiest person.”

The Boar’s 2023 April Fools article reflected this culture of student dissatisfaction with Rootes prices by envisioning a scenario where the Government’s Office for Students (OfS) filed a complaint to Warwick Students’ Union (SU), forcing price decreases across the board.

While such a measure was never imposed, the prices at Rootes – which will continue as a University-operated store – remain a fixture of student finance woes on campus, and shaped a key campaign pledge for the SU’s newly-elected VP Welfare and Campaigns, Ollie Chapman.

I think it is a material benefit and victory for Warwick students and should see the shop become more affordable. I hope that the ability to join the Co-op’s own reward scheme contributes to this affordability too

Ollie Chapman, VP Welfare and Campaigns-elect

Due to take up his new post in the coming academic year, it is unclear what will become of Chapman’s pledge to make Rootes prices cheaper as part of his manifesto slogan ‘Cheaper with Chapman’, with the store set to be operated under a franchise license from Co-op, an external company.

In a comment to The Boar, Chapman said: “I think it is a material benefit and victory for Warwick students and should see the shop become more affordable. I hope that the ability to join the Co-op’s own reward scheme contributes to this affordability too.

“I’d like to point to the good work of those on the University side for working towards this change, and to the work of Alijah, VP Postgraduates, who was the current primary driver from the SU side.

“My approach to on-campus food prices as a whole will remain staunchly opposed to any scenario in which food is made less affordable in aid of making the University or its businesses more money.”

Rootes already sells Co-op products – postgraduate student Matt even told The Boar, “honestly I thought it already was a Co-op” – but, under the company’s full branding and membership scheme, there is a good chance, as Chapman told us, that students will benefit from some cheaper prices.

Elaborating on the incoming food options, Warwick Food Group said: “The new store will also include a huge range of food to go, coffee, hot food and bakery, a dedicated university merchandise section and amazing value and savings through Co-op member deals.”

With our shared values and commitments to sustainability, fair trade, inclusivity and food equality, Co-op is the partner of choice for Warwick and an exciting new addition for our campus community

Matt Drew, Director of Food and Beverage for Warwick

On its website, Co-op details its membership perks as including “lower prices on everyday essentials” – which are often price-matched with Aldi – and “personalised offers” which students will be able to benefit from. A Co-op membership will cost students just £1.

The company’s two-tier meal deal offering looks marginally brighter than that of Rootes, costing £3.50 for members and £4 for non-members.

This will make go-to lunch options cheaper for students who are currently forced to pay £4.49 for Rootes’ more expensive meal deal option, while also slightly bettering Tesco’s current price, situated at £3.60 with a Clubcard and £4 without.

First-year student George commented to The Boar that “prices may be dropping, but at what cost? Is a central part of Warwick identity being lost?”

On the coming change, Matt Drew, Director of Food and Beverage for Warwick, said: “The University of Warwick is delighted to be launching a new Co-op franchise store on campus to serve our communities that are studying, living, working, and visiting the University.

“With our shared values and commitments to sustainability, fair trade, inclusivity and food equality, Co-op is the partner of choice for Warwick and an exciting new addition for our campus community.”

Warwick Food Group lauded Co-op’s environmental credentials in its press release, highlighting the company’s success at the 2023 Fairtrade Global Awards, at which it was awarded ‘Climate Leader’ of the year.

The Co-op store, pencilled in for a September opening, will continue to be operated by the University as a franchise with Rootes’ familiar team on hand to help – only now wearing Co-op apparel

Commenting on the new store, Martin Rogers, Director of Partnership Development at Co-op, added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with The University of Warwick which will bring Co-op and the benefits of membership to its exciting and diverse campus community.

“Our stores are designed to be a hub combining great quality products, value, deals and ethical retailing conveniently, along with community participation and additional customer services.”

The Food Group have confirmed that Rootes Grocery Store will close for a “full refurbishment” on 26 July.

In the interim, a new “temporary pop-up store” will then be set up on the ground floor of the SU building opposite the Finery barbers, to accommodate students on campus during the summer.

The Co-op store, pencilled in for a September opening, will continue to be operated by the University as a franchise with Rootes’ familiar team on hand to help – only now wearing Co-op apparel.

Warwick students will be crossing their fingers that more affordable food options are on the horizon in the near future.

But some have still raised an eyebrow or two.

Responding to the news, first-year student Aaron asked, “Ain’t Co-op also super expensive?”, while second-year Max simply quipped: “Get me an Asda”.