Co-op signs appear outside Doncaster supermarket at centre of long-running building saga

Work on the outlet on Thorne Road near to Sandall Park has been stop-start for months – and was originally supposed to be an Asda ‘on the go’ convenience store.

But signs advertising it as an Asda were removed last summer – leaving potential shoppers speculating on the potential future of the store.

Now signs with the Co-op's famous blue and white logo have been added to exterior signs in recent days with EG On The Move branding also installed.

Work has been taking place to construct the store near the entrance to Shaw Lane Industrial Estate since October 2022.

Last year, the firm’s bright green Asda logos were attached to the roof of the petrol station forecourt as well as exterior advertising signs, also promoting Subway, Sbarro Pizza, Cooplands and Leon which were expected to be among the outlets at the store.

But the Asda branding was later removed – along with the firm’s clothing brand George, leading to speculation that the supermarket giant had pulled out of the development.

Signs for sandwich giant Subway and bakery firm Greggs have been added – but branding for coffee outlet Leon and bakery firm Cooplands have been removed.

New York pizza chain Sbarro still appears to be part of the set up while hot dog concession Rollover seems to be no longer involved at the new outlet at the junction of Thorne Road and Wheatley Hall Road.

Starbucks branding has also been added to signs.

Diggers moved in October 2022 to create the new unit on land in front of the former Miller Brothers electricial showroom – now a gym.

Plans were submitted in 2022 by UK retailer EG Group, which had been working in conjuction with Asda to open the firm’s ‘On The Move’ branches across the country, with 100 already open and 100 more to follow and stocking up to 2,500 products.

The stores were first launched in October 2020.

Earlier this year Asda said it planned to open 110 convenience stores as it aimed to become the second-biggest grocery retailer in the UK, converting 109 shops it bought from the Co-op and EG Group to its Asda Express brand.