A major UK supermarket is preparing to shut its doors for the last time in East Devon, much to the dismay of locals who have shown their appreciation by signing cards for the staff. The Co-op, which has around 2,500 branches, is set to close one of its stores in Honiton, on Saturday, March 15, despite numerous letters to the local MP.
Over the weekend, community members organised a stall outside the store for people to sign a card for the employees and voice their concerns. Richard Foord, MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, shared on his Facebook page: “Several people have written to me concerned about the closure of Honiton’s Co-op – due on 15th March. I have written to the Chief Exec of the Co-op, and have been told that customers can email public.affairs@coop.co.uk to obtain further information and express their views.”
He added: “This is not only a disappointment for residents, but also for supporters of Honiton Fairtrade, who had an excellent launch event last year. There will be a stall outside the Co-op on Saturday 8 February where people can sign a card for staff and express their concern about the closure. Please contact honitonfairtrade@gmail.com for more details.”
The news has left shoppers and locals heartbroken. According to The Midweek Herald, nearly 200 people penned thank you cards to the branch’s staff last weekend, reports The Mirror.
Honiton Fairtrade has expressed immense gratitude after a heartwarming community effort: “We filled 10 thank you cards this morning outside the Co op…over 100 people signed (first names only). Thank you to everyone who stopped and for you all being so positive. It was a lovely experience for the six of us who ran it. The Co-op staff said it gave them a great feeling people wanted to thank them. We gave them two delicious sponge cakes from Mrs Fowler the egg lady to share over the next few days.”
The group continued their thanks: “Thank you to all the Co-op shoppers who stopped to sign our 10 thank you cards to the lovely staff team in the Co op yesterday. We enjoyed meeting you and counted up names on the cards…174 in 2 hours! We will give the cards to the staff this week. On Saturday we gave them cake! “
In a bid to save their local store, they revealed: “We’ve scanned the cards and will send to Co-op’s Head Office to show many Honiton people don’t want to lose the Co op from our town. [We will] thank the lovely staff and express our sadness the store is closing and we’re losing such a great provider of Fairtrade products. Honiton as a recognised Fairtrade Town will be the poorer for this closure.”