The Boards of the Co-op Group and Southern Co-op have announced proposals to join forces to create a co-operative society with greater scale, resilience and impact for members, customers, colleagues and communities across the UK.
If approved, the proposal would result in 300,000 Southern Co-op members joining the 7 million Co-op Group members as members of an enlarged Co-op Group. Southern Co-op operates more than 300 food, funeral and Starbucks coffee branches across the south of England, with the Co-op Group operating over 2,300 food stores, 800 funeral homes and a wholesale business supplying around 8,000 outlets, as well as a leading legal services and insurance business.
The transaction would also strengthen the co-operative movement, particularly in the South of England, and help continue to grow co-operation, providing even greater value to all members through meeting even more of their needs with a wider co-operative offering.
Debbie White, Chair of The Co-operative Group comments:
“The co-operative model is more important than ever for the health and success of communities across the UK, and a combined co-operative, bringing together over 300 years of co-operative experience, will provide new and strengthened opportunities for members, customers, colleagues and suppliers of both of our co-operatives.”
