The Midcounties Co-op Travel has completed its acquisition of seven travel agencies from the Thomas Cook Co-operative Travel joint venture.
The shops were due to close as a result of the Thomas Cook/ Co-operative Travel merger and have been bought for an undisclosed sum.The society revealed in Travel Weekly in March that it was in the advance stages of talks to buy eight shops. One was dropped because it was in the wrong location.
Midcounties will take on the 26 staff based at the shops. The branches acquired are: Solihull; Sutton Coldfield; Lichfield; Coventry; Acocks Green; Kingstanding in Birmingham; and Beeston in Nottinghamshire. The Beeston shop is a former Thomas Cook travel agency and the Coventry shop was previously part of The Co-operative Travel. The others were all previously part of the Midlands Co-op Travel group.
The shops were shut on May 4 and re-opened under the Co-operative Travel brand today, May 8. They join Midcounties’ network of 35 shops, which currently stretch from Cannock, Staffordshire, to the Forest of Dean.
Sue Reid, general manager, distribution, said: “We see a real opportunity to expand our high street presence in areas which fit our strategy for growth. The seven branches will not only allow us to widen our geographical spread in the Midlands but also to welcome experienced colleagues who will be assets to our business. We know the Co-operative and the values it stands for is an important and trusted brand for many people.”
Midcounties has already outlined plans to grow its branch network up to 60 by the end of May by opening branches around East Midlands Airport, Birmingham and Bristol.