Specialist supermarket with just one branch in UK reveals plans to open Glasgow store...

A SPECIALIST supermarket with just one branch in the UK has unveiled plans to open a Glasgow outlet.

Proposals have been lodged with the city council to convert a building on Howard Street into a store selling Afro-Caribbean cuisine and produce.

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The unit was previously occupied by seafood firm Bernard Corrigan.

But C.O International, which has a store in Manchester, wants to introduce a "new and exciting retail outlet into this sector of the city".

They said a large proportion of the businesses' income originates from Scottish customers.

The planning application reads: "It is worth noting that the only other city with this outlet is Manchester and the owners chose Glasgow because the demographics were appropriate and they believe that their product will contribute to the rich ethnic mix in the city.

"When occupied by Corrigans, while essentially a wholesale operation, there was a substantial element of sales direct to the public, so the concept of a retail outlet is not entirely new.

"The applicant already has a thriving business in Manchester but apparently a large part of the business derives income from customers in Scotland, hence the desire to open an outlet in Glasgow."

If plans are given the green light, the opening hours would be 7am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Alterations would be made to the front of the store to create a "more welcoming entrance".

We also told how a major budget supermarket is set to open three new shops across Scotland, creating hundreds of jobs.

The popular retailer has soared in popularity in recent years and became Scotland's third-biggest supermarket in 2023.