The Co-op have confirmed an “exclusive partnership” with Glastonbury to bring a food store to the 2019 festival, revealed alongside news they plan to build a permanent store in the nearby village of Pilton.

Co-op stores at Download, Latitude, Leeds and Reading last year proved popular, with offerings including meal deals and alcohol. Chilled 70cl plastic bottles of wine were sold for £7 at the Download Co-op, less than some single drinks from the festival’s bars, though both glass and plastic bottles will be banned from the Glastonbury site.

The Co-op say the Glastonbury campsite store will sell: “a wide range of food, drink and festival essentials like sandwiches, water, bacon, eggs and bread alongside the obligatory sun cream and rain ponchos”.

Inside the Download Festival Co-op in 2018

Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis said: “When I was a small boy there were three shops in this village. My earliest memories of going to the shop were to buy one penny packets of sherbet! Since then, one by one, the shops have closed and for several years we’ve had no shops at all.

“But now, thankfully we’ve managed to persuade the Co-op people to make a pledge and commit to trying to provide our marvellous village with a model village shop. We’re SO lucky and my enthusiasm is shared right across the village!”

The Co-op said its partnership with the festival was: “founded in a shared ethos of co-operation, community support, ethical values and campaigning to make meaningful change”.

Inside the Download Festival Co-op in 2018

Amanda Jennings, Director of Marketing Live & Local, Co-op said: “This is such an exciting and unique opportunity to build on our expertise of running festival stores and work with a partner to bring to life our shared values. Glastonbury is the ultimate live music festival and we can’t wait to welcome existing and new customers, young and old to our pop up shop .

“ Music festivals create a happy, weekend community which we are perfectly placed to serve, getting closer to customers with our unique convenience offer, providing high quality and value for money essential items to help festival-goers make the most of their Glastonbury experience.

“As the first national food retailer to work in this way with Glastonbury, we are developing exciting and unique plans together for the festival store. Equally, if the planning application is approved, opening a Co-op in Pilton would give us the opportunity to continue to serve the local community once the music has stopped and the tents have been packed away .”

Main image credit: TheFestivals (store) / Jason Bryant (Glastonbury site)