Co-op UK

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the UK, the "Co-op" refers to supermarkets, convenience stores, funeral directors, a small number of department stores and other businesses owned by a variety of independent Co-operative societies but largely marketed and operated in a co-ordinated way. The largest retail society is the Co-operative Group, formerly the Co-operative Wholesale Society, which also leads the manufacture of 'co-op' branded products sold by most other societies.

As with all other co-operative businesses, customers of the Co-op may become members of the individual society. This enables them to have some say in the operation of the business. The Co-op traditionally provided a dividend – the "divi" – for its member shoppers, and after a period of using stamps in the manner introduced by Green Shield Stamps, returned to its principles with an electronic "Clubcard" system. The society will make a payment to the customer based on the customers' spend with the Society in the previous trading period. The co-op is not a company; it is a mutual business: it is run for the benefit of its members. It does not have to consider shareholders like private companies.

The movement was started by the Rochdale Pioneers in 1844 who set out the Rochdale Principles with the aim of providing decent food at affordable prices in a shop controlled by its customers as a Cooperative. One of the societies was founded as St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Society in 1859 and after a merger came under the Scottish Midland Co-op as the Scotmid society.

[edit] External links

UK, Manx and Channel Island Consumer Co-operatives URL
The Co-operative Group http://www.co-op.co.uk
Anglia Co-op http://www.arcs.co.uk
Chelmsford Star Co-op http://www.chelmsfordstar.co.uk
Channel Islands Co-op http://www.ci-cooperative.com
Co-op Pharmacy http://www.co-oppharmacy.co.uk
East of England Co-operative Society http://www.ipswich-norwich.coop
Heart of England Co-op http://www.21stcenturyco-op.co.uk
Ilkeston Co-op http://www.ilkestoncoop.co.uk
Langdale Co-op http://www.langdaleco-op.co.uk
Leeds Co-op http://www.leeds-coop.com
Lincoln Co-op http://www.lincolnshire.coop
Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-op http://www.lothianco-op.com
The Midcounties Co-operative http://www.midcounties.coop
Midlands Co-op http://www.midsco-op.co.uk
Musselburgh & Fisherrow Co-op http://www.mfco-op.co.uk
Manx Co-op http://www.co-op.co.uk/iom
CWS Retail North Eastern & Cumbrian Region [1]
Penrith Co-op http://www.penrithco-op.co.uk
Plymouth and South West Co-operative Society http://www.psw.coop
Scottish Midland Co-op http://www.scotmid.com
Shoefayre http://www.shoefayre.co.uk
Southern Co-operatives http://www.southernco-op.co.uk
The Phone Co-op http://www.phonecoop.org.uk
Tamworth Co-op http://www.tamworth.coop
United Co-op http://www.coop.co.uk
Wooldale Co-op http://www.wooldale.coop

[edit] See also


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