IPSWICH & Norwich Co-op has joined the Co-operative Retail Trading Group's Department Store operation, bringing with it an extra £ 17 million sales from its three department stores and five Home stores.
CRTG's Department Store buying group, which was formed in 1999, now includes 91 stores with combined sales of almost £ 269 million.
The other leading Co-op non-food members are the Co-operative Group, Colchester & East Essex, Lincoln, Lothian & Borders, Midlands, Sheffield, United Co-operatives and Chelmsford Star.
Richard Samson, Chief Executive of Ipswich and Norwich Co-op, commented: `Through joining CRTG Department Store Group we will be building upon our long and successful association with CRTG's food operation and see this as a natural progression.
`We look forward to working with our colleagues at CRTG to maximise our combined buying power nationally.`
Paul Denham, who has recently taken up the post of general manager, department and home stores at the Co-operative Group, said: `We are delighted to welcome Ipswich & Norwich Society to the CRTG operation, which is proving to be a highly effective vehicle for developing this important area of Co-op retail activity and is going from strength to strength.`
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