The Co-op have agreed the sale of almost 300 of their smaller shops throughout the UK to the McColl Retail group.

The sale is subject to approval by McColl investors with handover anticipated in November of this year.

Along with several other Co-op outlets in Ayrshire, the sale will include the Co-op store in Muirkirk.

Although the store will continue trading and all staff will transfer to the new operation, the sale will end a very long association Muirkirk has had with the Cooperative movement.

The Co-op press release about the sale of this class of shops can be viewed here.