A CONVENIENCE store in Ilkley is among those being snapped up by The Co-op, which is buying eight My Local shops for an undisclosed sum.

The Ilkley site on Bolton Bridge Road is one of two stores being acquired by the Co-op in addition to six it has already bought, including one in Skipton Road, Steeton.

The 125-strong My Local chain was put into administration by owner Greybull Capital in June.

The business was originally launched in 2011 by Bradford-based Morrisons as M Local when it entered the convenience stores market at the Ilkley site in a bid to boost flagging sales.

Steve Murrells, Co-op Food’s chief executive – retail, said: “The Co-op Food business is moving forwards with a clear purpose and momentum, delivering a compelling, convenient and co-operative shopping experience for millions of shoppers each day.

“Our acquisitions programme is fundamental to the success of this strategy. In the last two years we have opened close to 200 new stores, and in 2016 the Co-op is actively pursuing 100 new stores as well as carrying out refits in a further 150.

“The acquisition of eight My Local stores supports our focus on convenience store retailing and adds to a portfolio that offers the right range in the right location.”

The Co-op operates a total of 3,750 outlets, with around 70,000 employees and an annual turnover of approximately £9 billion.

Morrisons offered a jobs lifeline to staff at My Local by offering to re-hire them if their stores were closed.

Meanwhile, Morrisons has appointed the UK’s first dedicated ‘bake officer’ who monitor will buying trends prompted by the hit TV series The Great British Bake Off, and ensuring that the most popular ingredients are in stock.

Keen baker Anastasia Duncanson, 30, received her job offer on a letter written on a cake and will be advising Morrisons on trending ingredients inspired by the TV series, which starts again this week.

Morrisons said the rise in home baking over the past five years is widely attributed to the ‘Bake Off effect’. Last year Morrisons saw sales of glace cherries spar by 163 per cent and almond extract by 110 per cent .

Anastasia, who is in charge of the home baking range in 492 Morrisons stores, said: “Being chosen to watch TV and react to baking trends is an absolute dream job . I will be keeping a close eye on trends and managing demand to ensure we satisfy the baking needs of our eleven million customers.”