BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER’S local Co-op has been named one of the top stores in Europe and the best in England by leading retail experts, following its £4.9million investment last year.

The Midcounties Co-operative Food store in Bourton-on-the-Water, which opened its doors to shoppers in October 2017, was the only supermarket in England to make it into grocery research organisation IGD’s ‘Top 14 Stores to See in Europe’ report.

The eco-friendly store on Station Road won its place in the top 14 thanks to its focus on sourcing local produce, according to IGD’s experts.

Its ‘Best of Our Counties’ range showcases more than 800 products from suppliers in Gloucestershire and neighbouring counties.

The report praised in-store cooking demonstrations that celebrate seasonal dishes and local ingredients and described the unique products available on the delicatessen counter as a ‘major draw for customers’.

Experts also highlighted the TV showing local supplier stories as a stand-out feature.

Phil Ponsonby, chief executive of trading for The Midcounties Co-operative said: “This is a fantastic achievement for our Bourton Food store, especially considering we only opened last year. It’s an honour to be featured on IGD’s list alongside some outstanding stores across Europe.

“The Best of Our Counties range is all about celebrating the food and drink available in our communities and supporting the talented local suppliers behind the products. It’s great to hear that organisations like IGD appreciate this initiative and value local produce as much as we do.”