A new £1.5 million Co-op set to open in Sturton by Stow

The £1.5m outlet on the corner of Saxilby Road has created 15 jobs for the local area.

It will include products from Lincolnshire Co-op’s Love Local range, which features goods sourced from the area, including Uncle Henry’s Farm near Gainsborough.

The outlet features a car park with 23 spaces and will open from 7am until 10pm seven days a week.

It was scheduled to open for the first time at 7am this morning and an official opening ceremony with invited guests is planned for 4pm.

Lincolnshire Co-op worked closely with Lincolnshire County Council’s historic places team to ensure historic features in the former pub building on the site had been recorded.

To prepare for the opening and get to know one another, colleagues from the food store volunteered their time to wrap presents ready for Santa’s grotto at Bransby Horses Rescue and Welfare.

Food store manager Patrick Sutton said: “Doing the volunteering means we’ve been able to make a difference to the local community even before the store has opened. Days like this are great because not only are you helping an important charity, but you can gel as a team and get to know one another.

“We’re all eager to get started welcoming people into the new outlet and begin providing our services in the area.”