CUSTOMER-owned retailer The Co-op is planning to upgrade more Bradford district stores as part of an £11 million investment programme in Yorkshire.

The mutual, headed by former Morrisons finance director Richard Pennycook, is to invest in new stores and funeral homes across the region which will create 250 jobs.

So far this year, The Co-op has invested £750,000 in refitting its Denholme and Keighley stores and will announce more developments later in the year.

The group, which already has 320 food stores and 94 funeral homes in Yorkshire employing around 6,800 people, plans to open up to 15 new shops and refit another ten over the next 12 months.

It will also open a further ten funeral homes.

Last year, the Co-op championed Yorkshire food when it launched a pilot initiative which saw it stock 130 new food and drink products from more than 50 local manufacturers and micro producers, including Stobarts Pies, of Low Moor.

Co-op Legal Services boosted the group’s Yorkshire operations by acquiring Sheffield-based Collective Legal Solutions which employs 20 people and around 100 self-employed associates.

Richard Pennycook, chief executive, said: “Yorkshire is a Co-op heartland and we are delighted to be making such a significant investment across the county.

“We are looking forward to adding to our already significant portfolio of stores and funeral homes, creating hundreds of new jobs in the process.

“The new stores and funeral homes will form hubs for local communities and customers will be able to find out what is going on locally, and learn about how the Co-op is here to benefit local groups.”

The Co-op’s more than 260,000 members in Yorkshire will have the chance to vote on its future plans at the annual general meeting in Manchester on Saturday.

For each member that votes the Co-op will donate 50p to British Red Cross, its charity partner.