Midcounties Co-op has taken on seven Carrick Travel branches, with the Midlands independent’s owners Tina Nason and Tracey Carter opting to give up the business.
The changes took effect on Friday (2 October) with 29 staff employed by Carrick across the seven branches transferring over to the Co-op and retaining their jobs.
All seven shops will continue to trade as Carrick Travel, but will be under the Co-operative Travel umbrella.
The seven Carrick shops transitioning to Midcounties are Kenilworth, Stratford-upon-Avon, Leamingtom Spa, Cheylesmore, Pershore, Grantham and Newark.
It comes after Midcounties, earlier this year, took on 16 of Central England Co-operative’s 24 travel branches after the society decided to shift its attentions away from travel.
The remaining eight Central England Co-operative shops closed. Midcounties’ travel retail network now extends to 78 premises.
Rad Sofronijevic, chief operating officer of Midcounties’ travel division, said: “Despite the challenges of Covid-19, travel remains core to Midcounties’ long-term strategy.
"The transfer of Carrick Travel gives us the opportunity to grow the Co-operative Travel operations for the benefit of our members, with shops that are located in the heart of their communities and to serve an additional customer base that complements our own.
"We look forward to nurturing and supporting the former Carrick Travel branches and their staff.
"Their welcome addition will strengthen the position of Midcounties Co-operative’s travel division for the future."
Carrick Travel’s four remaining branches not included in the transfer closed at the end of September. The business supported 10,000 customers with their travel arrangements over the past 12 months.
Owners Nason and Carter said: “It is with a heavy heart we bid farewell to Carrick Travel. However, we are incredibly happy that the journeys of our valued customers and many of our talented colleagues will continue under Co-operative Travel.
"The protection of our staff and clients has always been our highest priority. By agreeing a transfer with Midcounties Co-operative, particularly with the security that being part of a diverse business provides during these tough times in travel, we are ensuring the protection of our clients and as many of our colleagues’ jobs as possible.
“We have operated Carrick Travel very much as a family business with our stores playing an important role in the communities they serve.
"Co-operative Travel’s community-focused mindset and principles of care and compassion match our own ethos and we know that our team members and clients will be passed into very safe hands.”
Carrick Travel was founded in 1974, with Nason and Carter acquiring the business in 2012.