Coop Group
The Co-operative Group
Its operations span food, electrical, insurance, legal services and funeralcare.
- Name: Co-operative Group Limited
- Registration: https://mutuals.fsa.gov.uk/SocietyDetails.aspx?Number=525&Suffix=R
- Website: http://www.co-operative.coop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCooperative
The Co-operative Group began in 1863 as The Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS). By 1900 it was supplying goods to 1,439 retail co-operative societies, had entered manufacturing and farming, and had established Co-operative Insurance and the Co-operative Bank. In the early 1920’s many co-operative societies were going out of business, so in 1934 CWS established Co-operative Retail Services Limited (CRS) which aquired failing societies and brought them back into the movement.
In 2000 the CWS and CRS merged to form The Co-operative Group.
2013 was the 150th anniversary year.
The Co-operative Group has sold off the Farms and the Pharmacy and has lost control of the Co-operative Bank and Co-operative Travel.
Its constitution changed in May 2015 in response to its financial difficulties.
Contact: Ed Powell, edward.powell@coop.co.uk