SHOPPERS will have to wait another year for the new Co-op supermarket planned for Dursley.

It was announced in 2008 that Co-operative had bought Bristol-based supermarket chain Somerfield in a £1.5 billion deal.

The company now has ownership of some 900 Somerfield stores across the country including the shop in Parsonage Street, Dursley.

However despite many Co-operative products already available in the store, the conversion programme is not due to take place until 2011.

A spokeswoman for The Co-operative said: "The Co-operative Group plans to convert Somerfield stores to Co-operatives and aims to complete the conversion programme during 2011.

"In the meantime it is business as usual at Somerfield stores. There will be ongoing changes to enhance product ranges and, of course, Somerfield customers can now benefit from The Co-operative's unique share of profits dividend scheme which offers shopper members cash back on their trade with The Co-operative's businesses."

The Co-op also took ownership of the Somerfield store in Kingshill Parade, Dursley, after the deal but sold the building on to German chain Lidl as monopoly rules meant the chain couldn’t run all of the stores they bought.

The Lidl store opened in November with a new store design and a new Sainsbury’s supermarket in Castle Street is due to open this spring.

The Co-op Group owns an eight per cent share of Britain’s food retail sector and is the world’s largest consumer-owned business, with over 2.5 million members and 87,000 employees across all its business.

It is a family-run company, owned by its members and not controlled by shareholders or financial investors solely for the pursuit for profit.

The Co-op Group includes everything from food, pharmacy, electrical products and beds to travel, banking, funeral directors and insurance.

It is also well-known for its ethical standards with the chain stocking over 180 different Fairtrade products.