Investor-operator in public charging Zest has worked with Central Co-op to roll out EV charging facilities across a growing number of stores in the Midlands, Lancashire and East Anglia.
EV charging is now live at six Central Co-op sites – Wirksworth, Shelton Lock, Wildwood, Hambleton, Hethersett Local Centre, and Thornton‑Cleveleys – with speeds ranging from 30kW to 120kW.
With 20 stores now in the pipeline, the partnership will see Zest deliver charging facilities across a mix of new and existing stores, as well as at selected petrol stations. Under the multi-year agreement, Zest funds, deploys, and operates the charging infrastructure.
The Central Co-op deployment is part of Zest’s growing portfolio of partnerships with national retailers, highlighting the company’s “commitment to making EV charging widely accessible across the UK”, it said.
Andy Peake, Central Co-op Chief Operating Officer said:
“At the heart of this announcement is Central Co-op’s commitment to creating a sustainable Society for all. As a Member-owned Co-operative Society, we’re focused on longevity, prioritising the needs of our colleagues, Members, and the communities we serve, as well as our planet.
“We have ambitious goals to build on our longstanding Carbon Neutral commitments and aim to be 100% green energy self-sufficient by 2030 and NetZero by 2040. Working with key partners like Zest to facilitate better access to EV charging moves us further along on our journey to sustainability.”
Robin Heap, CEO of Zest, said:
“Expanding EV charging into retail locations like Central Co-op stores ensures that sustainable transport is accessible where people live, work, and shop.
“As a B Corp, we share the values of the Co-op movement, and we are making charging more convenient for customers while helping stores play a leading role in the transition to cleaner, more responsible mobility.”
Image courtesy of Zest
