The Co-operative Food
Encyclopedia
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 in the United Kingdom. The Co-operative food is the successor of the Co-op Late Shop and the Co-op Welcome
Whilst the UK co-operative sector's market share of food retail has diminished from a peak of 30% in the 1950s to just 9% today, the Co-operative Group remains the fifth largest food retailer in the United Kingdom
. It operates over 3,300 stores of various sizes with the biggest geographical spread of any retailer, with a store in every postal region of the UK. The Group took the decision not to compete head-on with the Big Four supermarket multiples on range and price in a market that was becoming ever more competitive. It decided to concentrate instead on smaller stores which were in local communities. It also began to market the "co-operative difference" and the ethical stance it took on sourcing, having long been a supporter of Fairtrade.
An example is the iconic Co-op 99 brand tea that has now joined all other own-brand beverages in becoming Fairtrade. In addition all Co-operative own-brand health, beauty and household products are marked with an "approved by BUAV" rabbit symbol to show that neither the product nor its ingredients have been tested on animals. Members of The Co-operative Group are entitled to earn dividend
on purchases made at The Co-operative food.
The Co-operative Food brand appears on own label goods stocked by all of the UK's retail co-operative societies, while many of the regional societies also use the brand
on their stores.
According to Catherine Charnock of Co-operative Brands Ltd., The Co-operative Food was given a green identifying colour distinguishing it from other co-operative business sectors (such as pharmacy, banking, travel and funerals) and from the previous blue livery.
Retailer Somerfield
Stores Ltd. was acquired by The Co-operative Group on 2 March 2009 in a £1.57 billion deal; the brand will be replaced by The Co-operative Food fascia within two years of this acquisition.
The company's in-store "Co-operative Radio" is produced and broadcast by Mood Media
Barnsley
RDC was closed in April 2007. Ossett
, Talke
and Bradford
were closed in September 2010.Eccleshall closed November 2010. Following the opening of the Newhouse depot, [Harthill] and [Cumbernauld] closed in October 2011. Peterborough and Huntsworth also closed in October 2011.
A composite distribution centre opened in June 2011 on the site of the former RAF Air Field in Andover
, Hampshire
, replacing the current facilities at Fareham and Southampton, and eventually Thetford.
Further distribution centres are planned at Avonmouth
and in the North Midlands.
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...
, and is used by other independent consumer co-operatives in the United Kingdom. The Co-operative food is the successor of the Co-op Late Shop and the Co-op Welcome
Overview
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 operates over 3,300 stores of various sizes with the biggest geographical spread of any retailer, with a store in every postal region of the UK. The Group took the decision not to compete head-on with the Big Four supermarket multiples on range and price in a market that was becoming ever more competitive. It decided to concentrate instead on smaller stores which were in local communities. It also began to market the "co-operative difference" and the ethical stance it took on sourcing, having long been a supporter of Fairtrade.
An example is the iconic Co-op 99 brand tea that has now joined all other own-brand beverages in becoming Fairtrade. In addition all Co-operative own-brand health, beauty and household products are marked with an "approved by BUAV" rabbit symbol to show that neither the product nor its ingredients have been tested on animals. Members of The Co-operative Group are entitled to earn 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...
on purchases made at The Co-operative food.
The Co-operative Food brand appears on own label goods stocked by all of the UK's retail co-operative societies, while many of the regional societies also use the brand
The Co-operative brand
The Co-operative is a common branding used by a variety of co-operatives based in the United Kingdom.Many in the UK mistakenly consider the Co-op to be a single national business, however each Co-operative is actually a franchise selling branded goods produced by the Co-operative Group The...
on their stores.
According to Catherine Charnock of Co-operative Brands Ltd., The Co-operative Food was given a green identifying colour distinguishing it from other co-operative business sectors (such as pharmacy, banking, travel and funerals) and from the previous blue livery.
Retailer Somerfield
Somerfield
Somerfield was a chain of small to medium sized supermarkets operating in the United Kingdom. The company was taken over by the Co-operative Group on 2 March 2009 in a £1.57 billion deal, creating the UK's fifth largest food retailer. The name is currently being phased out and replaced by the...
Stores Ltd. was acquired by The Co-operative Group on 2 March 2009 in a £1.57 billion deal; the brand will be replaced by The Co-operative Food fascia within two years of this acquisition.
- A recent Which survey claimed that the Co-operative was the least favourite grocer with only 46% satisfaction among customers. This is compared to WaitroseWaitroseWaitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
who achieved 85%.
The company's in-store "Co-operative Radio" is produced and broadcast by Mood Media
Mood Media
Mood Media Corporation formerly known as Fluid Music Canada Inc., is a music delivery company. Their services include both in-store media as well as in-store kiosks. They market their products through wholly owned operating subsidiaries, Mood Media, Trusonic and Somerset Entertainment...
Distribution
Co-operative Food Supply Chain Logistics is the distribution business of the Co-operative Group. The 23 distribution centres are located at| Depot Name | Location | Products | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfreton | Alfreton, Derbyshire | Chilled, Meat and Produce | |||||
| Birtley | Birtley, County Durham | Ambient, Chilled, Meat and Produce | |||||
| Bridgwater | Bridgwater, Somerset | Ambient | |||||
| Cardinal | Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire | Chilled, Meat and Produce | |||||
| Carrickfergus | Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland | ||||||
| Chelston | Taunton, Somerset | Ambient | |||||
| Coventry | Coventry, West Midlands | Slow moving ambient lines delivered via other distribution centres | |||||
| Fareham | Fareham, Hampshire | Ambient | |||||
| Halesowen | Birmingham, West Midlands | Frozen | |||||
| Huntingdon | Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire | Ambient | |||||
| Lea Green | Liverpool | Ambient, Frozen, Chilled, Meat and Produce | |||||
| Newhouse | near Glasgow, Scotland | Ambient, Frozen, Chilled, Meat and Produce | |||||
| Nottingham | Nottingham, Nottinghamshire | Ambient | |||||
| Peterborough | Peterborough, Cambridgeshire | Chilled, Meat and Produce | |||||
| Pitreavie | Dunfermline, Scotland | ||||||
| Portbury | Bristol | Chilled, Meat and Produce | |||||
| Southampton | Southampton, Hampshire | Frozen, Chilled, Meat and Produce | Stock is picked at either Portbury or Halesowen and delivered by the Southampton depot | ||||
| Thetford | Thetford, Norfolk | Frozen | |||||
| Plymouth | Plymouth, Devon | Ambient | |||||
| Thurrock | West Turrock, Essex | Ambient, Chilled, Meat and Produce | Minsterley Minsterley Minsterley is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It is home to a large dairy operated by Uniq foods.The dairy currently employs nearly 500 people... |
Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
RDC was closed in April 2007. Ossett
Ossett
Ossett is a market town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, England. It is located on junction 40 of the M1 motorway, half-way between Dewsbury, to the west, and Wakefield, to the east. In the 2001 census, it was classified as part of the West Yorkshire...
, Talke
Talke
Talke is a village in the English county of Staffordshire, four miles northwest of Newcastle-under-Lyme.-Etymology:Its unusual name is derived from the even more unusual "Talk o' th' Hill" which means 'bush on top of the hill'...
and Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
were closed in September 2010.Eccleshall closed November 2010. Following the opening of the Newhouse depot, [Harthill] and [Cumbernauld] closed in October 2011. Peterborough and Huntsworth also closed in October 2011.
A composite distribution centre opened in June 2011 on the site of the former RAF Air Field in Andover
Andover
-Places:In the United Kingdom:* Andover, Hampshire, EnglandIn Canada:* Andover, New Brunswick* Perth-Andover, New BrunswickIn the United States:* Andover, California* Andover, Connecticut* Andover, Florida* Andover, Illinois* Andover, Iowa...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, replacing the current facilities at Fareham and Southampton, and eventually Thetford.
Further distribution centres are planned at Avonmouth
Avonmouth
Avonmouth is a port and suburb of Bristol, England, located on the Severn Estuary, at the mouth of the River Avon.The council ward of Avonmouth also includes Shirehampton and the western end of Lawrence Weston.- Geography :...
and in the North Midlands.