Northern Co-operative Society
Encyclopedia
Northern Co-operative Society Limited (abbreviated to Norco), previously named Northern Co-operative Company Limited, was a local consumer co-operative trading in Aberdeen
, Scotland
, from 1861 to 1993.
It operated supermarkets and other businesses throughout Aberdeenshire, and employed 2000 people in 1992.
It was put into the hands of a receiver for liquidation
in 1993, as a result of financial difficulties that The Guardian newspaper attributed to “an over-ambitious building and development programme” and failed attempts to dispose of the entire business as a going concern, despite the successful sale of its dairy, five pharmacies, and then several supermarkets to Argyll Stores and the Co-operative Wholesale Society
(CWS).
The first shop was a grocery business at 51 Gallowgate, opened in July that year. The original company had a fixed capital of £1000, but in 1917, it converted into Northern Co-operative Society.
The Society's headquarters were in a large building on Loch Street, which contained the company's offices as well as an arcade-style shopping area. It was described in 2000 as “like Convent Garden
(sic) – a delightful, quaint area at the centre of the city where people could stroll” by Connie Leith, head of the Ferryhill Heritage Society.
Norco House, a large department store
which replaced the Loch Street building, was opened in George Street in 1970, less than 100 feet from the original building.
The trading name of Norco was soon adopted by the entire co-operative.
The “space-age” four storey Norco House department store was later bought, refurbished and operated by the John Lewis
employee-owned chain.
The old Loch Street building remained empty and slowly deteriorated until its eventual demolition in 1986.
In 1977, Norco opened a 54000 square foot flagship superstore in the Berryden
district of Aberdeen.
The Berryden store was sold to the Scottish Co-op in 1993 immediately before the receivership, and operated by that co-operative for seven years.
In April 1992, Norco declared a loss of £7 million, and the chief executive, Robin Pollock, resigned.
Emergency measures included a massive sell-off of businesses, and a pay freeze.
Kennerty Dairies (since bought by Robert Wiseman Dairies
) bought Norco's Berryden dairy, and Argyll Group bought supermarkets in Banchory
, Elgin
, Ellon
and Westhill.
Finally, in 1993, Norco approached Scottish Co-op with a view to a rescue merger, but the latter organization declined the request.
It employed 2000 people in 1992, when the financial problems became apparent, and on going into receivership in June 1993, it had 800 employees.
Its trading area included the Aberdeenshire and Moray
towns of Banchory
, Elgin
, Ellon
, Kemnay
, Inverurie
, Port Elphinstone and Westhill.
At its peak it had branches and departments throughout the city of Aberdeen.
Since the demise of Norco, the tradition of consumer co-operation in Aberdeenshire has been continued or revived by three southern organizations: Scotmid Co-operative, Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-operative
and Scottish Co-op (a retail division of CWS, now the Co-operative Group
.)
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, from 1861 to 1993.
It operated supermarkets and other businesses throughout Aberdeenshire, and employed 2000 people in 1992.
It was put into the hands of a receiver for liquidation
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
in 1993, as a result of financial difficulties that The Guardian newspaper attributed to “an over-ambitious building and development programme” and failed attempts to dispose of the entire business as a going concern, despite the successful sale of its dairy, five pharmacies, and then several supermarkets to Argyll Stores and the Co-operative Wholesale Society
The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom consumer cooperative with a diverse range of business interests. It is co-operatively run and owned by its members. It is the largest organisation of this type in the world, with over 5.5 million members, who all have a say in how the business is...
(CWS).
History
Norco was formed in 1861 as Northern Co-operative Company, by two committees of Aberdeen residents who planned to follow the example of the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society.The first shop was a grocery business at 51 Gallowgate, opened in July that year. The original company had a fixed capital of £1000, but in 1917, it converted into Northern Co-operative Society.
The Society's headquarters were in a large building on Loch Street, which contained the company's offices as well as an arcade-style shopping area. It was described in 2000 as “like Convent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
(sic) – a delightful, quaint area at the centre of the city where people could stroll” by Connie Leith, head of the Ferryhill Heritage Society.
Norco House, a large department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
which replaced the Loch Street building, was opened in George Street in 1970, less than 100 feet from the original building.
The trading name of Norco was soon adopted by the entire co-operative.
The “space-age” four storey Norco House department store was later bought, refurbished and operated by the John Lewis
John Lewis (department store)
-Recent developments:In June 2004, John Lewis announced plans to open its first store in Northern Ireland at the Sprucefield Park development, the province's largest out of town shopping centre, located outside Lisburn and from Belfast. The application was approved in June 2005 and the opening of...
employee-owned chain.
The old Loch Street building remained empty and slowly deteriorated until its eventual demolition in 1986.
In 1977, Norco opened a 54000 square foot flagship superstore in the Berryden
Berryden
- Berryden Retail Park :Berryden Retail Park is the main shopping destination in the north side of Aberdeen.Main Retailers:*Sainsbury's - Includes: Timpson & Thomas Cook*Carphone Warehouse*Toys R Us*Mecca Bingo* Ponden Home Superstore*Next...
district of Aberdeen.
The Berryden store was sold to the Scottish Co-op in 1993 immediately before the receivership, and operated by that co-operative for seven years.
In April 1992, Norco declared a loss of £7 million, and the chief executive, Robin Pollock, resigned.
Emergency measures included a massive sell-off of businesses, and a pay freeze.
Kennerty Dairies (since bought by Robert Wiseman Dairies
Robert Wiseman Dairies
Robert Wiseman Dairies plc is a large Scottish milk supplier and distributor. They are now one of the largest dairy businesses in Great Britain with seven major dairies . Robert Wiseman Dairies also distribute cream and orange juice...
) bought Norco's Berryden dairy, and Argyll Group bought supermarkets in Banchory
Banchory
Banchory is a burgh or town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, lying approximately 18 miles west of Aberdeen, near where the Feugh River meets the River Dee.- Overview :...
, Elgin
Elgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
, Ellon
Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Ellon is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north of Aberdeen, lying on the River Ythan which has one of the few undeveloped river estuaries on the Eastern coast of Scotland. It is in the ancient region of Formartine...
and Westhill.
Finally, in 1993, Norco approached Scottish Co-op with a view to a rescue merger, but the latter organization declined the request.
Operations and co-operative movement
Norco was previously noted as the only large consumer co-operative in the UK not to be a member of the Scottish or English Co-operative Wholesale Societies.It employed 2000 people in 1992, when the financial problems became apparent, and on going into receivership in June 1993, it had 800 employees.
Its trading area included the Aberdeenshire and Moray
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
towns of Banchory
Banchory
Banchory is a burgh or town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, lying approximately 18 miles west of Aberdeen, near where the Feugh River meets the River Dee.- Overview :...
, Elgin
Elgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
, Ellon
Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Ellon is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north of Aberdeen, lying on the River Ythan which has one of the few undeveloped river estuaries on the Eastern coast of Scotland. It is in the ancient region of Formartine...
, Kemnay
Kemnay
Kemnay is a town west of Aberdeen in Scotland. It has a population of about 4,500 .- History :The villagename Kemnay is believed to originate from the Celtic words that mean bend and river due to...
, Inverurie
Inverurie
Inverurie is a Royal Burgh and town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north west of Aberdeen on the A96 road and is served by Inverurie railway station on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line...
, Port Elphinstone and Westhill.
At its peak it had branches and departments throughout the city of Aberdeen.
Since the demise of Norco, the tradition of consumer co-operation in Aberdeenshire has been continued or revived by three southern organizations: Scotmid Co-operative, Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-operative
Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-operative Society
Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-operative Society Limited , founded in 1839 in the Scottish Borders, was the oldest independent consumer co-operative in Scotland until it merged with The Co-operative Group in December 2008....
and Scottish Co-op (a retail division of CWS, now the Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom consumer cooperative with a diverse range of business interests. It is co-operatively run and owned by its members. It is the largest organisation of this type in the world, with over 5.5 million members, who all have a say in how the business is...
.)