CO-OP UK

In the UK, 'the Co-op' refers to the Co-operative Movement which, through its various societies, operates supermarkets, convenience stores, travel agents, pharmacies, 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 under the Co-operative banner. The largest retail society is the Co-operative Group which also leads the manufacture of Co-operative branded products sold by the regional societies who are also corporate members of the Group.
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.
In the 1970s, many societies used stamps in the manner introduced by Green Shield Stamps, and many then abandoned the paying of any dividend as trading dropped. In the 1990s, the Co-operative Group and others made a partial return to the idea of making payments to customers (whether members or not) with the introduction of an electronic loyalty card system, and in the case of the Group, a full scale return to "true dividend" in 2006 when the membership aspect of the Co-operative was placed back at the heart of the business. From now, all dividend payments, or shares of the profits, will be based on members spending throughout the year and across all parts of the business.
A co-operative 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 - its members are its shareholders.
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 Co-operative. The idea spread throughout the UK and across the world with many local societies forming and subsequently amalgaming. There are now fewer than fifty societies in the UK, albeit they are far larger than those smaller local societies of years gone by.

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External links

See also

External links

UK, Manx and Channel Island Consumer Co-operatives	URL
The Co-operative Group	http://www.co-op.co.uk
Anglia Regional Co-operative Society	http://www.arcs.co.uk
Chelmsford Star Co-op	http://www.chelmsfordstar.co.uk
Channel Islands Co-op	http://www.ci-cooperative.com
National Co-operative Chemists	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
Lincoln Co-op	http://www.lincolnshire.coop
Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-op	http://www.lothianco-op.co.uk
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
Wooldale Co-op	http://www.wooldale.coop

See also

★ Supermarkets in the United Kingdom

★ Supermarket cooperative