Wooldale Co-operative Society
Encyclopedia
Wooldale Co-operative Society Limited (Wooldale Industrial and Equitable Co-operative Society Limited until 1989) is a small consumer co-operative
based in the West Yorkshire
village of Wooldale
. The society operates three convenience stores in the Holme Valley
villages of New Mill, Thongsbridge
and Wooldale
. The society was founded in 1886.
The society is a member of the CRTG (Co-operative Retail Trading Group
) and a corporate member of the Co-operative Group
. It also has agreements with the Co-operative Group for stock distribution and promotions.
In 2006, the society met with its small neighbouring societies, Shepley Co-operative Society
and Highburton Co-operative Society
with a view to merger. This could reduce costs and increase turnover by adding two further stores to its portfolio and combining administrative operations. These talks did not result positively and in the spring of 2007, the society approached Rochdale-based United Co-operatives
on the possibilities of a merger. The boards of the two societies agreed to a merger, but in a Special General Meeting held on 11 May 2007, this proposal was defeated by the members of the Wooldale society on a near 2:1 ratio.
Consumers' cooperative
Consumer cooperatives are enterprises owned by consumers and managed democratically which aim at fulfilling the needs and aspirations of their members. They operate within the market system, independently of the state, as a form of mutual aid, oriented toward service rather than pecuniary profit...
based in the West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
village of Wooldale
Wooldale
Wooldale is a small village nestled on a hill, overlooking the Kirkroyds area of Newmill, Holmfirth in West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 2,420.-Co-operative Society:...
. The society operates three convenience stores in the Holme Valley
Holme Valley
Holme Valley is a large civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 25,049 . Its administrative centre is in Holmfirth. Other sizeable settlements in the parish include, Brockholes, Honley and New Mill...
villages of New Mill, Thongsbridge
Thongsbridge
Thongsbridge is a small village in the Kirklees district of West Yorkshire, England. It is in the semi-rural Holme Valley and the village boundaries merge into the neighbouring communities of Holmfirth, New Mill and Wooldale...
and Wooldale
Wooldale
Wooldale is a small village nestled on a hill, overlooking the Kirkroyds area of Newmill, Holmfirth in West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 2,420.-Co-operative Society:...
. The society was founded in 1886.
The society is a member of the CRTG (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 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...
. It also has agreements with the Co-operative Group for stock distribution and promotions.
Shepley Co-operative Society
Shepley Co-operative Society Limited is a small consumer co-operative based in the West Yorkshire village of Shepley in the United Kingdom. The Society operates a single store on Station Road....
and Highburton Co-operative Society
Highburton Co-operative Society
Highburton Industrial and Provident Society Limited, or Highburton Co-op, was a small consumer co-operative based in the West Yorkshire village of Highburton, five miles southeast of Huddersfield. The Society was founded in 1856, buying the building from the church, and operating a single store on...
with a view to merger. This could reduce costs and increase turnover by adding two further stores to its portfolio and combining administrative operations. These talks did not result positively and in the spring of 2007, the society approached Rochdale-based 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...
on the possibilities of a merger. The boards of the two societies agreed to a merger, but in a Special General Meeting held on 11 May 2007, this proposal was defeated by the members of the Wooldale society on a near 2:1 ratio.