Independent frozen food pioneer, COOK, has inaugurated its 100th store in Poynton, Cheshire. This expansion comes at a time when many retailers face downturns, with COOK experiencing a 16% surge in sales over the last 11 months, reaching £109m.
The new store in Poynton, strategically placed between Stockport and Macclesfield, is set to create 12 new jobs, contributing positively to the local economy. The opening follows concerning data from the British Retail Consortium about the closure of 6,000 high street shops in the past five years and the recent fall into administration of The Body Shop.
At the helm of COOK’s success are siblings and joint CEOs, Rosie Brown and Ed Perry, who attribute the brand’s triumph to its deep-rooted commitment to serving local communities. “Our ambition for every COOK shop is for it to be at the heart of the local community,” stated Brown. They empower their teams to establish meaningful local connections, embodying the belief that thriving communities and great shops go hand in hand, thereby fostering social impact alongside business growth.
Further underlining its community engagement, COOK’s Community Kitchen initiative has been pivotal in supporting local events with discounted food and distributing over 400,000 free meals through charity partners, especially notable during the lockdown period. Each new COOK store is inaugurated by a local hero, recognized for their contributions to the community, reinforcing the brand’s dedication to societal well-being. This commitment was recently acknowledged when COOK was named Responsible Retailer of the Year at the Retail Week Awards.
The concept for COOK’s award-winning homemade frozen meals traces back to the culinary traditions of Brown and Perry’s mother, Anne, emphasizing hand-prepared dishes made from kitchen cupboard ingredients. This focus on quality and tradition has been a cornerstone of the brand’s identity.
Remarkably, COOK has achieved over £100m in sales without the involvement of major supermarkets, a rare feat in the UK’s grocery sector. In addition to its standalone stores, COOK’s products are available through branded freezers in over 1,000 independent retailers, enhancing its presence across the country.
Perry reflects on the enduring appeal of physical stores, stating, “We don’t believe the high street is dying. It’s evolving for sure. But our physical shops are growing faster than online right now.” This belief in the high street’s resilience is backed by the unique in-store experience COOK offers, emphasising differentiated products and exceptional hospitality.
