Co-Op UK

Encyclopedia : C : CO : COO : Co-Op UK

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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.

As with all other co-operative businesses, customers of the Co-op may become members of the 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.

External links

UK and Isle of Man Consumer Co-operatives

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		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.lincolncoop.co.uk
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		Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op	http://www.osg-co-op.co.uk
Penrith Co-op	http://www.penrithco-op.co.uk		Plymouth and South West Society	http://www.plymco.co.uk
Scottish Midland Co-op	http://www.scotmid.com		Shoefayre	http://www.shoefayre.co.uk
Southern Co-op	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
West Midlands Co-op	http://www.co-opgrapevine.co.uk		Wooldale	http://www.wooldale.coop
Yorkshire Co-op	http://www.coop.co.uk

See also

• Supermarkets in the United Kingdom
• Supermarket cooperative
  

 

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