Co-op Company Profile
The Co-operative Group is a very historic British brand that has its origins in Rochdale, Lancashire.
Established in 1863, membership lies at the heart of the business.
The group is based on the notion of ethical trading and a belief that the profits should be shared amongst members according to their purchases. Members can subscribe for as little as £1 and manage the business for their benefit in accordance with Co-op values and principles.
Co-op food is the biggest business within the group with 2,500 stores of different sizes across the UK. There are approximately 1,000 other stores under the control of the wider group. The Co-op is a major player in the UK supermarket sector and accounted for 6.6% of purchased UK groceries in 2016.
The Co-op continues to expand and acquire struggling businesses to grow, the most notable of these being Somerfield which it acquired for £1.57bn in 2009. In 2021, Co-op started selling food online working with Amazon using robots to deliver groceries. Nisa Retail Ltd is a large subsidiary of the group.
Co-op Products and Services:
- Food – different ranges include Co-op (standard own brand range), Irresistible (premium food and drink), Free From (suitable for customers with food allergies), Gro (vegetarian) and Honest Value (low price range).
- Funeralcare (the UK’s number one funeral services provider)
- Legal services
- Insurance
- Travel
