Co-op Food

Co-op self-service grocers in London ca 1950.

Co-op supermarket in Kirton, Lincolnshire in 1995.

Co-op supermarket in Ackworth, West Yorkshire in 1990s-2000s branding.

A Co-operative Food shop in Lawnswood, Leeds with pre 2016 branding.

The "Co-op" brand is used by over 3,500 shops owned by various societies which make up the co-operative movement, including the Central England Co-operative and the Midcounties Co-operative. A number of co-operative societies including Scotmid and the Lincolnshire Co-operative prefer to use the 1992 'cloverleaf version' of The Co-operative brand. In May 2016, The Co-operative Group reverted to the use of its 1968 Co-op cloverleaf branding.[1]

In March 2009, The Co-operative Group acquired the Somerfield supermarket retailer for £1.57bn from a group of private equity investors. The Somerfield Head Office in Bristol was subsequently closed and the grocery stores were either sold to rivals or integrated into its own Co-op Food division. In 2016, The Co-operative Group sold 298 smaller convenience stores to McColl's.

The majority of products sold in "Co-op Food" shops are sourced collectively through Co-operative Federal Trading Services although stocking decisions and pricing are determined by the individual businesses.

Distribution

A Co-op food truck outside a store in Cockfosters

Co-op Food Supply Chain Logistics is the distribution business of The Co-operative Group that manages the national and international distribution of goods on behalf of all the food retailing co-operative societies who are members of Co-operative Federal Trading Services. The Co-operative Group manages all of its own logistics and most of its delivery operations, although several distribution centres use third party logistics partners to manage their transport operations. Supply Chain Logistics Head Office is co-located at the Birtley Distribution Centre.

Co-op Food Supply Chain Logistics has 8 regional composite distribution centres and 3 smaller satellite depots supporting the larger CDCs. The Coventry-based National Distribution Centre (NDC) supplies all distribution centres direct, with slow moving lines.

Depot Name	Location	Products	Transport Operation
Birtley (Logistics Head Office)	Birtley, County Durham	Ambient, Frozen (picked in Newhouse), Chilled, Meat and Produce	Co-op SCL
Andover	Andover, Hampshire	Ambient, Frozen, Chilled, Meat and Produce	XPO Logistics
Avonmouth	Avonmouth, Bristol	Ambient, Frozen (picked in Andover), Chilled, Meat and Produce	XPO Logistics
Castlewood	Mansfield, Derbyshire	Ambient, Frozen (picked in Lea Green), Chilled, Meat and Produce	Co-op SCL
Lea Green	St Helens, Merseyside	Ambient, Frozen, Chilled, Meat and Produce	Wincanton
Newhouse	Lanarkshire, Scotland	Ambient, Frozen, Chilled, Meat and Produce	Co-op SCL
Thurrock	West Thurrock, Essex	Ambient, Frozen (picked in Andover), Chilled, Meat and Produce	Co-op SCL
Cardinal	Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire	Ambient (picked in Castlewood), Frozen (picked in Andover), Chilled, Meat and Produce	Wincanton
Coventry (NDC)	Coventry, West Midlands	Slow moving lines.	Eddie Stobart
Inverness	Highlands, Scotland	Satellite depot for Northern Scotland	Co-op SCL
Carrickfergus	County Antrim, Northern Ireland	Satellite depot for Northern Ireland	Co-op SCL
Plymouth	Plymouth, Devon	Satellite depot for South Western England	Co-op SCL
Leicester	Leicester	Ambient,Chilled, Meat and Produce depot for Leicestershire	Central England Co-operative

Members of The Co-operative Group and participating regional societies earn one membership point for every £1.00 spent at The Co-operative Food. Points are converted into dividend at a rate agreed annually by the Board.[3]

In September 2016, The Co-operative Group launched a new membership, decreasing the amount members earn from 5% to 2%, and increasing the amount spent on charity from 1% to 2%.

Co-op Food ranges currently are (as of May 2016):

• Co-op – standard own brand range
• Irresistible – premium food and drink
• Free From – suitable for customers with food allergies
• Gro – Vegetarian own brand range
• Honest Value – Low price range

Co-op Food ranges formerly were:

• Loved By Us – standard own brand range
• Truly Irresistible – premium food and drink
• Home Baking – home baking range
• Simply Value – low price range

In November 2020, the "Honest Value" range was launched as a lower priced range.[4]

• Co-operative Retail Trading Group
• British co-operative movement

• Co-op Food
• Co-op Food Shop Finder