Co-operative Group facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Co-operative Group Limited

One Angel Square, Manchester The Co-operative Group's Headquarters
Type	Consumer Co-operative
Industry	Wholesale, Real Estate, Finance, Social Enterprise, Education & Retail
Founded	13 December 1844 (13 December 1844)
Headquarters	One Angel Square, Manchester , United Kingdom
Number of locations	4,200+
Key people	Allan Leighton (Group Chair) Steve Murrells (Chief Executive)
Services	Food Digital Funeralcare Insurance Legal Services Co-op Membership
Revenue	£9.5 billion (2016)
Net income	£59 million (2016)
Members	4.35 million (active members, 2016)
Number of employees	Over 60,000 (2016)
Subsidiaries	The Manx Co-operative Society Limited 100+

The Co-operative Group, often called The Co-op, is a large British business. It's a special kind of company called a consumer co-operative. This means it's owned by its customers, not by a few big shareholders. The Co-op runs many different businesses. These include food shops, electrical stores, financial services, insurance, legal help, and funeral care. It has over 4,200 locations across the UK.

The Co-op is the biggest consumer co-operative in the UK. More than 4 million active members own it. Anyone aged 16 or older can become a member. You just need to pay £1 and agree to follow the Co-op's values. The Co-op Group employs over 60,000 people across the UK.

This business has always been known for being ethical. From the very start, women had the same voting rights as men in the society. The Co-op was also the first big UK shop to support Fairtrade products. They have also started many other good ideas that are now common. These include clear nutrition labels on their food and improving animal welfare. They also use their own renewable energy and help local communities. The Co-op has had the Fair Tax Mark since 2015, showing they pay their fair share of taxes.

What Businesses Does The Co-op Run?

The Co-op Group owns most of the co-operative shops in the UK. They also have a big part in other markets, like travel and funeral services.

Co-op Food: Your Local Shop

The Co-op's food shops are the biggest part of the group. They trade as Co-op Food. There are over 2,700 stores of different sizes. You can find them all over the UK, more than almost any other shop. Most Co-op food stores are smaller convenience shops or medium-sized supermarkets. Some are larger superstores. The Co-op also supplies food to other co-operative shops in the UK.

Co-op Funeralcare: Helping Families

The Co-operative Group runs the UK's largest Funeral Director service. They have over 900 funeral homes. Many of these homes still use their original names. But most of them now use the Co-op Funeralcare brand.

Co-op Insurance: Protecting What Matters

The society owns Co-op Insurance. This business offers general insurance to Co-op members. They also provide insurance for other businesses.

Co-op Legal Services: Legal Help for You

Co-op Legal Services offers legal help across the country. They can help with family law and divorce. They also help with writing wills, dealing with estates after someone passes away, and buying or selling homes. They can also assist with personal injury and employment law.

Co-op Electrical: For Your Home Appliances

Co-op Electrical sells many different electrical items. These range from kitchen appliances and washing machines to home entertainment systems. In 2015, the Co-op was the first electrical shop to sell its extended warranty insurance at cost price. This means they didn't make a profit from it. Before this, extended warranties were often seen as bad value. Shops promoted them because they made a lot of money from them. Co-op Electrical is also special because it offers a 60-minute delivery time slot. They confirm this by text message on the day of delivery.

The Co-operative Bank: Financial Services

The Co-op Group currently owns a small part (20%) of The Co-operative Bank. This bank used to be fully owned by the Co-op Group. But in 2014, the group had to sell most of its shares. This was done to raise money for the bank.

Co-op Estates: Property and Development

The Group also works in managing retail sites and investing in property. This is done through its business called The Co-operative Estates. This part of the Co-op is involved in a big project in Manchester. It's called NOMA and is worth £800 million. The Co-operative Estates also helps other co-operatives buy energy together.

Images for kids

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  The Hanover Building in Manchester, former headquarters of the Co-operative Wholesale Society

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  The head offices for the Co-operative Bank and the CIS in Manchester's 'co-op quarter'

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  The Co-op superstore Lisburn Road, Belfast, shown here in 1996.

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  Example of the 'Co-Op Welcome' branding from Stansted Mountfitchet

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  Example of the 'Late Shop' branding on the co-op store in Whitnash

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  The VG logo and shop livery, c. 1990

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  Co-op Group convenience store (2007-2016 brand) Tilehurst, Berkshire

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  CIS Tower and One Angel Square in Manchester, England.

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  Co-op convenience store Aylsham, Norfolk using cloverleaf branding

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  Former CWS warehouse by the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, England

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  Co-operative Pharmacy, St Michael's Hill, Bristol just before the sale to Bestway

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  The Co-operative Bank head office building at 1 Balloon Street, Manchester, England

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  Co-op savings stamp book, 1980s

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  The rear nutritional information panel for a pack of own brand sausages

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  Queen Elizabeth II at the opening of an office declared the "most environmentally-friendly building in the world", November 2013