OurCoop appoints LoweConex to unify refrigeration and HVAC telemetry

LoweConex expands its work across the newly formed co-operative retail society, OurCoop, following the coming together of Central Co-op, Chelmsford Star Co-operative and Midcounties Co-operative in January 2026. The partnership brings together experience from the previous Midcounties deployment alongside a new society-wide rollout designed to support asset uptime, smarter maintenance workflows and improved estate performance.

LoweConex has announced an expanded partnership with OurCoop, supporting the society with centralised refrigeration and HVAC telemetry through Conex OS, LoweConex’s connected estate platform.

Subscribe to TRB

For convenience and grocery retailers, maximising device uptime is critical. Refrigeration and HVAC assets directly impact product quality, store comfort, energy consumption and the customer experience. By bringing telemetry from both asset categories into one platform, OurCoop will gain clearer visibility of estate health, asset condition and operational performance.

The expanded partnership will support teams in getting ahead of refrigeration faults, improving alarm intelligence, increasing work order accuracy and strengthening insight across critical store infrastructure. This connected approach is designed to help reduce reactive workloads, improve maintenance outcomes and support better capital decisions across the estate.

This development builds on the successful deployment originally delivered across the former Midcounties Co-operative estate two years ago, now bringing both Co-operative retail estates into scope for centralised telemetry, Conex OS deployment and ongoing professional services for facilities management optimisation.

Conex OS connects and normalises data from fragmented operational systems, creating one place to observe, manage and act on estate-wide performance. Alongside the platform, LoweConex will provide professional services to help identify opportunities for continuous improvement, maximise energy optimisation and improve long-term asset performance.

Steve Smith, Senior Facilities Manager at OurCoop, said:

“Ensuring our stores operate efficiently and reliably is critical for our colleagues, members and customers. By working with LoweConex, we are creating a more centralised view of our refrigeration and HVAC assets, helping our teams make better-informed decisions around maintenance, energy consumption and estate performance.

“This partnership gives us the visibility and support needed to continue improving the health of our estate, while helping us manage critical assets in a more connected and proactive way.”

Jessica Caldwell, Head of Customer Success at LoweConex, said:

“We’re delighted to be working with OurCoop and look forward to growing our partnership as it continues to evolve. Building on our initial work with Midcounties Co-operative, we’re proud to be deepening our support across the Co-operative retail sector.”

“For convenience and grocery retailers, connected asset data can make a measurable difference. By centralising refrigeration and HVAC telemetry through Conex OS, OurCoop can improve alarm intelligence, strengthen maintenance workflows and unlock clearer insight into energy performance and estate health.

“This gives FM and energy teams the confidence to act earlier, optimise performance and make better long-term decisions across their estate.”

…………………………

About OurCoop

OurCoop is the UK’s largest independent co-operative Society, with more than one million Members and 13,000 colleagues operating in communities nationwide. It was formed by bringing together Central Co-op, The Midcounties Co-operative and Chelmsford Star Co-op to create a stronger, member-owned organisation rooted in shared co-operative values

The Society trades nationally through its family of businesses while remaining deeply rooted in local communities. Its footprint spans Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Bedfordshire in the South and West; the Midlands including Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire; the North including Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Yorkshire; and the East of England, including Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

OurCoop and its family of businesses are trading names of Central England Co-operative Limited.

About LoweConex

LoweConex helps multi-site businesses centralise OT and IT systems into one unified platform for data management, visualisation and analytics. Through Conex OS, LoweConex connects fragmented estate data across assets, systems and locations, giving teams clearer visibility, stronger control and better insight into operational performance.

Its platform and professional services support facilities, energy and maintenance teams across complex estates, helping them reduce energy waste, improve asset uptime, optimise maintenance workflows and make faster, more confident decisions.