The Co-op has extended a long-running logistics partnership that supports deliveries to over 1,000 of its stores across the UK.

The supermarket has announced a five-year extension to its contract with logistics provider GXO in an agreement that spans its Avonmouth, Andover and Lea Green distribution centres.

The two corporations will continue to work closely together to enhance efficiency, service and resilience across Co-op’s transport network, and incorporate best practices and innovations developed by GXO, it added.

By the end of the renewal, the two groups will have been working together for more than 20 years.

Stuart Rendall, Co-op’s head of logistics operations, said: “Extending and deepening our partnership with GXO is an exciting development, ensuring we can continue our shared history of collaboration and innovation into the future.

“As a convenience retailer, we are focused on running a world class resilient supply and logistics operation to provide our customers with the products they want to buy from our 2,300 stores across the UK. We have successfully worked with GXO over many years to this end, and we are looking forward to the next chapter in our partnership.”

GXO said that the partnership also includes strong community ties, with employees across the Co-op network having contributed over 1,500 hours of volunteering and engagement over the past year. GXO also collaborates with three Co-op academies, state-funded schools sponsored by the cooperative, by offering mentoring, employability workshops and site engagement.

GXO describes itself as the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, and works with several other major UK supermarkets. In April, the company partnered with Sainsbury’s and supply chain consultancy Baringa to launch a campaign aimed at tackling hunger in the UK.

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