Anglia Regional Co-operative Society
Encyclopedia
Anglia Regional Co-operative Society Limited is the fifth largest consumer co-operative in the United Kingdom
. It was formed by the merger of the Greater Peterborough
Regional (formerly Peterborough and District) and Anglia (formerly Waveney
) Co-operative Societies in 1987. The Society has a wide-ranging and extensive portfolio with over 100 stores, principally trading in East Anglia
. Previously located at Westgate House, head office re-located to Burch House, Peterborough in 2011.
According to the International Co-operative Alliance
, “A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise.” The Society is a registered Industrial and Provident Society
, a member of the Co-operative Union Ltd., the Co-operative Retail Trading Group
and a corporate member of Co-operative Group Ltd. (formerly Co-operative Wholesale Society), the largest consumer co-operative in the world.
, serving the needs of its customers, employees and the communities in which it trades.” In practice, the Society’s principal undertakings today, besides food and fuel retail, comprise AHF Home Furnishings and the provision of funeral, optical, travel and foreign exchange
services.
In 2004, United Co-operatives
Ltd., based in the North West
of England, announced that it no longer intended to include department stores in its primary strategy, leading to the sale of seven stores, mostly inherited from the Yorkshire
Co-operative Society, to the Anglia Society. In 2005, the Co-operative Group also announced its decision to exit the department store sector and, in 2006, a further seven stores, this time located in the South East
of England, were transferred to the Anglia Society. The Group subsequently merged with United in 2007. Thus, through acquisition, many former Westgate branches were situated further afield than the core Eastern region.
In 2007, the Society—now the largest in the non-food sector—formed the Anglia Buying Service, making its buying and logistics expertise available to other co-operatives. In 2008, it launched an electronic commerce
venture, selling bedroom, living and dining room furniture, with free delivery throughout Great Britain
.
In 2011, the business of 19 Westgate Department Stores, including Contact Electrical and Comfortmaker Textile Superstores was divested to J E Beale Plc; ownership of the properties remains with the Society and Beales are committed to maintain and honour the dividend at these branches. The Co-operative Home store in Hartlepool and Westgate stores at Blyth, Scunthorpe and March were not included in the sale. The site of the March store was sold to Reef Estates Ltd. and ceased trading, although the Co-operative Travel branch based there was unaffected, relocating to its own premises. The Hartlepool store will close on 30 November when the Society's 10 year lease of the premises expires.
. The full board meets monthly and sub-committees meet quarterly or less frequently.
Dividend
is a share of the profits made by the Society. The rate of dividend is recommended to members by the board of directors
and put to a vote. Members have an opportunity at the point of sale to donate their dividend to the Anglia Co-operative Community Fund, formerly known as Share 600, the proceeds of which are presented each year to three or four charities nominated by the board. It is paid annually and a warrant placed in the share account wallet on receipt.
The Co-operative Group relaunched its own membership scheme in 2006. In 2008, the Anglia Society joined the new scheme under a reciprocal arrangement. The Society will in future allocate dividend through the card scheme and members will also be able to accrue dividend at participating societies nationally. This will include food purchases, on which the Society had not previously paid dividend.
A new rule book based on Co-operativesUK 12th edition model rules was approved by the membership and registered with the Financial Services Authority
in 2009.
The following non-trading companies are also wholly owned by the Society:
Although managed by the Society, in-house travel agents
operate under the national co-operative travel brand. The Co-operative Travel
is a member of the Co-operative Travel Trading Group
. From 2008, Rainbow supermarkets and Co-op Local stores began re-branding as The Co-operative Food, whilst also remaining part of the Anglia Society.
Since 1999, chemists in the Society's trading area are owned by National Co-operative Chemists Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Co-operative Group, trading as The Co-operative Pharmacy
. The business and assets of the former Anglia Dairies Ltd. were transferred to Dairy Crest
Group Plc in 1997 for an aggregate consideration of £4.5m.
(est.1866), St. Neots (est.1882), Huntingdon
(est.1866), Wisbech
(est.1886), King's Lynn
(est.1888), St. Ives
(est.1889) and Chatteris
(est.1900) societies, becoming the Peterborough and District Co-operative Society, then Greater Peterborough Regional Co-operative Society.
Stanley Tiffany
, a director of the Society, was elected Labour Co-operative
Member of Parliament for the Peterborough division
of Northamptonshire at the 1945 general election
.
The Anglia (formerly Waveney) Co-operative Society, which transferred engagements to the Peterborough Society in 1987, had earlier absorbed the Beccles
(est.1879), Diss
(est.1898) and Lowestoft
(est.1890) societies.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was formed by the merger of the Greater Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
Regional (formerly Peterborough and District) and Anglia (formerly Waveney
Waveney
Waveney is a local government district in Suffolk, England, named after the River Waveney that forms its north-west border. The district council is based in Lowestoft, the major settlement in Waveney, which is the only unparished area in the district...
) Co-operative Societies in 1987. The Society has a wide-ranging and extensive portfolio with over 100 stores, principally trading in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
. Previously located at Westgate House, head office re-located to Burch House, Peterborough in 2011.
According to the International Co-operative Alliance
International Co-operative Alliance
The International Co-operative Alliance is a non-governmental co-operative federation or, more precisely, a co-operative union representing co-operatives and the co-operative movement worldwide. It was founded in 1895. The ICA maintains the internationally recognised definition of a co-operative...
, “A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise.” The Society is a registered Industrial and Provident Society
Industrial and Provident Society
An industrial and provident society is a legal entity for a trading business or voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and New Zealand...
, a member of the Co-operative Union Ltd., the Co-operative Retail Trading Group
Co-operative Retail Trading Group
The Co-operative Retail Trading Group is the central buying group for co-operative retail societies in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1993, and says that it supplies 100% of food bought for sale by co-operatives in the UK, after being joined by the last two independent societies in 2002...
and a corporate member of Co-operative Group Ltd. (formerly Co-operative Wholesale Society), the largest consumer co-operative in the world.
Services
Under its rules, “The objects of the Society are to carry on the business of a store-keeper, general dealer and universal provider in all its branches, and in particular to buy, sell, manufacture, produce, grow, cultivate and deal in goods, stores, consumable articles, chattels and effects of all kinds, both wholesale and retail and generally to engage in any business, trade or industry which may seem to the Society directly or indirectly conducive to the interests or convenience of the Society's members or any section thereof.” In addition, the aims state, “The Society shall at all times conduct its business and affairs in accordance with the Rochdale Principles of Co-operation, as published from time to time by the International Co-operative AllianceInternational Co-operative Alliance
The International Co-operative Alliance is a non-governmental co-operative federation or, more precisely, a co-operative union representing co-operatives and the co-operative movement worldwide. It was founded in 1895. The ICA maintains the internationally recognised definition of a co-operative...
, serving the needs of its customers, employees and the communities in which it trades.” In practice, the Society’s principal undertakings today, besides food and fuel retail, comprise AHF Home Furnishings and the provision of funeral, optical, travel and foreign exchange
Bureau de Change
A bureau de change or currency exchange is a business whose customers exchange one currency for another. Although originally French, the term bureau de change is widely used throughout Europe, and European travellers can usually easily identify these facilities when in other European countries...
services.
In 2004, United Co-operatives
United Co-operatives
United Co-operatives Limited, or simply United Co-op, was the largest regional consumer co-operative in the United Kingdom until its merger with The Co-operative Group in 2007. The Society operated across Yorkshire, the north west and north Midlands of England...
Ltd., based in the North West
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
of England, announced that it no longer intended to include department stores in its primary strategy, leading to the sale of seven stores, mostly inherited from the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
Co-operative Society, to the Anglia Society. In 2005, the Co-operative Group also announced its decision to exit the department store sector and, in 2006, a further seven stores, this time located in the South East
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
of England, were transferred to the Anglia Society. The Group subsequently merged with United in 2007. Thus, through acquisition, many former Westgate branches were situated further afield than the core Eastern region.
In 2007, the Society—now the largest in the non-food sector—formed the Anglia Buying Service, making its buying and logistics expertise available to other co-operatives. In 2008, it launched an electronic commerce
Electronic commerce
Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce, eCommerce or e-comm, refers to the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. However, the term may refer to more than just buying and selling products online...
venture, selling bedroom, living and dining room furniture, with free delivery throughout Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
In 2011, the business of 19 Westgate Department Stores, including Contact Electrical and Comfortmaker Textile Superstores was divested to J E Beale Plc; ownership of the properties remains with the Society and Beales are committed to maintain and honour the dividend at these branches. The Co-operative Home store in Hartlepool and Westgate stores at Blyth, Scunthorpe and March were not included in the sale. The site of the March store was sold to Reef Estates Ltd. and ceased trading, although the Co-operative Travel branch based there was unaffected, relocating to its own premises. The Hartlepool store will close on 30 November when the Society's 10 year lease of the premises expires.
Membership
Co-operative societies are owned and controlled by their members on the principle of one member one vote and the Anglia Society has always operated on that basis, giving all members equal voting rights. Each member is required to hold at least one share of £1 which is paid in full on entering the Society. Organisations are also eligible to join. Agreed by the membership, the Society's rules provide for a board of ten, three of whom may be employees of the Society, to be elected by the annual general meetingAnnual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
. The full board meets monthly and sub-committees meet quarterly or less frequently.
Dividend
Dividend
Dividends are payments made by a corporation to its shareholder members. It is the portion of corporate profits paid out to stockholders. When a corporation earns a profit or surplus, that money can be put to two uses: it can either be re-invested in the business , or it can be distributed to...
is a share of the profits made by the Society. The rate of dividend is recommended to members by the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
and put to a vote. Members have an opportunity at the point of sale to donate their dividend to the Anglia Co-operative Community Fund, formerly known as Share 600, the proceeds of which are presented each year to three or four charities nominated by the board. It is paid annually and a warrant placed in the share account wallet on receipt.
The Co-operative Group relaunched its own membership scheme in 2006. In 2008, the Anglia Society joined the new scheme under a reciprocal arrangement. The Society will in future allocate dividend through the card scheme and members will also be able to accrue dividend at participating societies nationally. This will include food purchases, on which the Society had not previously paid dividend.
A new rule book based on Co-operativesUK 12th edition model rules was approved by the membership and registered with the Financial Services Authority
Financial Services Authority
The Financial Services Authority is a quasi-judicial body responsible for the regulation of the financial services industry in the United Kingdom. Its board is appointed by the Treasury and the organisation is structured as a company limited by guarantee and owned by the UK government. Its main...
in 2009.
Subsidiaries
The following trading companies are wholly owned by the parent Society:- ARCS Internet Ltd., trading as Co-op Furniture — the online store of AHF and Westgate
- Co-op Funeral Services (Anglia) Ltd., trading as Anglia Co-operative Funerals, incorporating R J Scholes, J H Landin & Son, George James & Son, Watkins & Stafford, Fishers, Dennis Easton, H E Bull & Son, M J Claypole and A Coley & Son funeral directors
- Elite Electrical Ltd.
- Westgate Optical Ltd., property management
- Plutarch Ltd., property management
- Westgate Properties (Anglia) Ltd.
- Yaxley Farm Ltd.
The following non-trading companies are also wholly owned by the Society:
- Anglia Motor Group Ltd.
- Anglia Wholesale Furniture Distribution Ltd.
- Contact Electrical Superstores Ltd., incorporating Comfortmaker Textile Superstore, both of AbingdonAbingdon, OxfordshireAbingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
, OxfordshireOxfordshireOxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire .... - Rainbow Stores Ltd., with adjacent petrol stations franchisedFranchisingFranchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
by ShellRoyal Dutch ShellRoyal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six... - Westgate Department Stores Ltd., incorporating Oasis Restaurants and Stylistics Hair and Beauty Salon
Although managed by the Society, in-house travel agents
Travel agency
A travel agency is a retail business that sells travel related products and services to customers on behalf of suppliers such as airlines, car rentals, cruise lines, hotels, railways, sightseeing tours and package holidays that combine several products...
operate under the national co-operative travel brand. The Co-operative Travel
The Co-operative Travel
The Co-operative Travel is the trading name of Co-op Group Travel 1 Ltd., a subsidiary of the Co-operative Group. The largest independent travel agent in the United Kingdom; it is a member of the Co-operative Travel Trading Group and is both ABTA and ATOL bonded...
is a member of the Co-operative Travel Trading Group
Co-operative Travel Trading Group
The Co-operative Travel Trading Group is the central buying group for co-operative travel agents in the United Kingdom. It is organised by the Co-operative Group on behalf of the regional societies, which are themselves corporate members of Co-operative Group Ltd.The CTTG was established along the...
. From 2008, Rainbow supermarkets and Co-op Local stores began re-branding as The Co-operative Food, whilst also remaining part of the Anglia Society.
Since 1999, chemists in the Society's trading area are owned by National Co-operative Chemists Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Co-operative Group, trading as The Co-operative Pharmacy
The Co-operative Pharmacy
The Co-operative Pharmacy is the trading name of National Co-operative Chemists Ltd., a subsidiary of the Co-operative Group. Established in 1945, it is the third largest chemist in the United Kingdom and the largest in Wales...
. The business and assets of the former Anglia Dairies Ltd. were transferred to Dairy Crest
Dairy Crest
Dairy Crest Group plc is a major dairy products company in the United Kingdom. Its brands include Cathedral City Cheddar cheese, Utterly Butterly, Vitalite, Clover, St Ivel and Frijj. The company delivers milk to around 1.1 million households via their milkmen...
Group Plc in 1997 for an aggregate consideration of £4.5m.
History
The Society was founded as Peterborough Equitable Industrial Co-operative Society in 1876. It later absorbed the OundleOundle
Oundle is an ancient market town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 5,345 or 5,674 . It lies some north of London and south-west of Peterborough...
(est.1866), St. Neots (est.1882), Huntingdon
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is the traditional county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council. It is known as the birthplace in 1599 of Oliver Cromwell.-History:Huntingdon...
(est.1866), Wisbech
Wisbech
Wisbech is a market town, inland port and civil parish with a population of 20,200 in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. The tidal River Nene runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges...
(est.1886), King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
(est.1888), St. Ives
St Ives, Cambridgeshire
St Ives is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England, around north-west of the city of Cambridge and north of London. It lies within the historic county boundaries of Huntingdonshire.-History:...
(est.1889) and Chatteris
Chatteris
Chatteris is a civil parish and one of four market towns in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire, England, situated in The Fens between Huntingdon, March and Ely...
(est.1900) societies, becoming the Peterborough and District Co-operative Society, then Greater Peterborough Regional Co-operative Society.
Stanley Tiffany
Stanley Tiffany
Stanley Tiffany CBE was an English Labour Co-operative politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1945 to 1950.He was the son of Alert Tiffany from Rothwell in the West Riding of Yorkshire...
, a director of the Society, was elected Labour Co-operative
Labour Co-operative
Labour and Co-operative describes those candidates in British elections standing on behalf of both the Labour Party and the Co-operative Party, based on a national agreement between the two parties....
Member of Parliament for the Peterborough division
Peterborough (UK Parliament constituency)
Peterborough is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, formally styled The Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past...
of Northamptonshire at the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
.
The Anglia (formerly Waveney) Co-operative Society, which transferred engagements to the Peterborough Society in 1987, had earlier absorbed the Beccles
Beccles
Beccles is a market town and civil parish in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk. The town is shown on the milestone as from London via the A145 Blythburgh and A12 road, northeast of London as the crow flies, southeast of Norwich, and north northeast of the county town of...
(est.1879), Diss
Diss
Diss is a town in Norfolk, England close to the border with the neighbouring East Anglian county of Suffolk.The town lies in the valley of the River Waveney, around a mere that covers . The mere is up to deep, although there is another of mud, making it one of the deepest natural inland lakes...
(est.1898) and Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
(est.1890) societies.
See also
- The Co-operative PartyCo-operative PartyThe Co-operative Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom committed to supporting and representing co-operative principles. The party does not put up separate candidates for any UK election itself. Instead, Co-operative candidates stand jointly with the Labour Party as "Labour...
- British co-operative movement
- History of the cooperative movementHistory of the cooperative movementThe history of the cooperative movement concerns the origins and history of cooperatives. Although cooperative arrangements, such as mutual insurance, and principles of cooperation existed long before, the cooperative movement began with the application of cooperative principles to business...
Further reading
- Webb, Sidney and Beatrice The Consumers' Co-operative Movement London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1930
- Holyoake, George JacobGeorge HolyoakeGeorge Jacob Holyoake , English secularist and co-operator, was born in Birmingham, England. He coined the term "secularism" in 1851 and the term "jingoism" in 1878.-Owenism:...
The History of Co-operation Volume 1 Pioneer Period, Chapter VI His Appeal to the People London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1908