Anglia Co-operative Travel is in talks over a number of opportunities to expand its shop chain.
The society has already acquired nine shops this year, all from The Co-operative Travel/Thomas Cook joint venture.
Specialist retail group manager Paul Dale anticipates the shop chain increasing to about 25 branches from the current 21.
The society has not revealed which company it is in talks with to acquire further stores.
Dale said: “If the right opportunity presents itself, we would look at it. It’s all about the commercials. We tend to look at each shop on an individual basis.”
Dale said the society was looking at expansion within a 75-mile radius around its Peterborough head office, which led to its decision to move into the Midlands following the acquisition of six The Co‑operative Travel shops in Midlands Co-operative food stores this summer.
None of these shops will be rebranded, but they may stay open later in future to service customers using the food
stores, which open until 9pm.
The society is also considering recruiting about 10 homeworkers to handle calls when its shops are shut and take calls generated by its marketing and brochures, and to act as support to cover staff in the stores if they are on holiday or off sick.
“We would have homeworkers to support our retail business and serve customers out of hours,” said Dale. “The plan is that our businesses would work hand in hand, with one homeworker to service every three stores.”