Local children will take on star status when they perform the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially launch the £225,000 new look Co-op food store in Lamlash.
Pupils from Lamlash Primary School will be presented with a donation of £200 for school funds by store manager Canice Donnelly to mark the occasion.
Mr Donnelly said: ‘As a community retailer it is appropriate that we involve the community in our special events and we are delighted our local school is playing a central role in the relaunch of our store.’
The store will feature the consumer-owned Co-operative Group’s new identity, The co-operative, which aims to highlight improved service standards across its 4,500 outlets in the UK, including its travel, pharmacy, funerals and bank branches, as well as its commitment to supporting local communities and ethical trading policies.
The community store will be transformed with modern décor, new fittings and eco-friendly refrigeration, plus a more shopper friendly layout.
Mr Donnelly said: ‘We provide a much valued service and I am confident the new look store will better meet the daily food shopping needs of the local community; the improved store will be a real asset.
‘In addition, in the best traditions of the co-operative, it will make its contribution to community life.’
A spokesman from the Co-operative Group said: ‘The Main Street store will offer a more comprehensive choice.
‘The emphasis will be on fresh foods, with the range increasing by a quarter.
There will be a wider selection of chilled beers and wines and the popular paypoint service will be retained.’
As the leading supermarket supporter of Fairtrade, the co-operative’s popular Fairtrade products will feature and the new look Lamlash store will carry the retailer’s own health and beauty range with products that are not tested on animals.
The Co-operative Group also gives its customer members a share of its profits in cash. Members can choose to keep the twice-yearly payouts or donate all or part of them to local worthy causes.
The Lamlash co-operative store will open at 8am on Thursday November 29, followed by the official relaunch at 10am with the ribbon cutting ceremony.
