Midlands Co-operative Society
Encyclopedia
The Midlands Co-operative Society Limited is a regional consumer co-operative in the United Kingdom
. It is a registered Industrial and Provident Society
, a member of the Co-operative Union Ltd., the Co-operative Retail Trading Group
, the Co-operative Travel Trading Group
and a corporate member of Co-operative Group Ltd. (formerly Co-operative Wholesale Society), the largest consumer co-operative in the world.
Since the merger of The Co-operative Group and United Co-operatives
in 2007, it is now the second-largest co-operative in the UK. As its name suggests, the Society operates predominately in the English Midlands
. Head office is located at Lichfield
in Staffordshire
.
Co-operative Society which, in 1854, was one of the first co-operatives in the Midlands. In 1969, a number of Leicestershire
societies merged to form the Leicestershire Co-operative Society Limited. Similar circumstances occurred in 1985 across Derbyshire
, Staffordshire
and Birmingham
forming the Central Midlands Co-operative Society Limited. In 1995, the boards of the Leicestershire and Central Midlands Societies, which were financially sound and trading profitably, agreed to merge. Since 1854, 72 separate mergers between different societies have been undertaken to form today's Midlands Co-operative.
Most recently, Chesterfield Co-operative Society merged with the Society in 2001, Ilkeston Co-operative Society
in 2006, Raunds Co-operative Society
in 2007 and Moulton Co-operative Society
in 2009.
.
Food retailing
The Society operates 176 supermarkets and convenience stores throughout its trading area. Most are now rebranded as The Co-operative Food
, mirroring branding from The Co-operative Group.
Travel agents
With the transfer of the Ilkeston Society, the Midlands Co-operative now has a large portfolio of over 100 travel agents. These agencies currently operate both the traditional Midlands' Co-op Travel and Ilkeston Co-op Travel formats.
Funeral directors
Midlands Co-op Funeral Services operate some 80 funeral homes throughout the region.
Fashion & Home retailing
Unlike many co-operatives, the Society maintains a number of fashion & home stores. These consist of six department stores located in Chesterfield
, Coalville
, Derby
, Ilkeston, Stafford
and Wigston. It also operates three other specialist non-food stores, selling beds and electrical products.
Garages
The Society operates light-commercial vehicle servicing garages and MoT testing stations in Leicester and Loughborough. It also has a single Suzuki
car franchise in Kettering
.
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 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...
, 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...
and a corporate member of Co-operative Group Ltd. (formerly Co-operative Wholesale Society), the largest consumer co-operative in the world.
Since the merger of The Co-operative Group and 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...
in 2007, it is now the second-largest co-operative in the UK. As its name suggests, the Society operates predominately in the English Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
. Head office is located at Lichfield
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
.
History
The Society traces its origins to the DerbyDerby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
Co-operative Society which, in 1854, was one of the first co-operatives in the Midlands. In 1969, a number of Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
societies merged to form the Leicestershire Co-operative Society Limited. Similar circumstances occurred in 1985 across Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
and Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
forming the Central Midlands Co-operative Society Limited. In 1995, the boards of the Leicestershire and Central Midlands Societies, which were financially sound and trading profitably, agreed to merge. Since 1854, 72 separate mergers between different societies have been undertaken to form today's Midlands Co-operative.
Most recently, Chesterfield Co-operative Society merged with the Society in 2001, Ilkeston Co-operative Society
Ilkeston Co-operative Society
Ilkeston Co-operative Society was a consumer co-operative society based in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England.By 2006, Ilkeston had created one of the largest independent travel companies in the UK, operating 42 branches throughout the East Midlands and South Yorkshire...
in 2006, Raunds Co-operative Society
Raunds Co-operative Society
Raunds Co-operative Society Limited was a consumer co-operative society based in Raunds, Northamptonshire, founded in 1891.The society operated a large supermarket and a department store in Raunds, and as of 2007 held of farmland at Northdale Farm, farming wheat and oilseed rape.It had 4,297...
in 2007 and Moulton Co-operative Society
Moulton Co-operative Society
The Moulton Co-operative Society Limited, or simply Moulton Co-op, was a small regional consumer co-operative in the United Kingdom. The society was formed in 1861 and operated a single supermarket in Moulton, Northamptonshire...
in 2009.
Services
Membership is open to all residents of the Society's trading area, with members receiving a share of the profits in the form of dividendDividend
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...
.
Food retailing
The Society operates 176 supermarkets and convenience stores throughout its trading area. Most are now rebranded as The Co-operative Food
The Co-operative Food
The Co-operative Food, abbreviated sometimes to the Co-op, is a brand devised for the supermarket and convenience store business of the UK's consumers' co-operative movement. It is the name of the largest division of The Co-operative Group, and is used by other independent consumer co-operatives...
, mirroring branding from The Co-operative Group.
Travel agents
With the transfer of the Ilkeston Society, the Midlands Co-operative now has a large portfolio of over 100 travel agents. These agencies currently operate both the traditional Midlands' Co-op Travel and Ilkeston Co-op Travel formats.
Funeral directors
Midlands Co-op Funeral Services operate some 80 funeral homes throughout the region.
Fashion & Home retailing
Unlike many co-operatives, the Society maintains a number of fashion & home stores. These consist of six department stores located in Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, Coalville
Coalville
Coalville is a town in North West Leicestershire, England, with a population estimated in 2003 to be almost 33,000. It is situated on the A511 trunk road between Leicester and Burton upon Trent, close to junction 22 of the M1 motorway where the A511 meets the A50 between Ashby-de-la-Zouch and...
, Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, Ilkeston, Stafford
Stafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
and Wigston. It also operates three other specialist non-food stores, selling beds and electrical products.
Garages
The Society operates light-commercial vehicle servicing garages and MoT testing stations in Leicester and Loughborough. It also has a single Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
car franchise in Kettering
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
.
External links
- Midlands Co-operative Society – the former Ilkeston Co-op site in 2005