OurCoop named finalist in Cooperatives Europe 20th Anniversary Awards

OurCoop has been named a finalist in the Cooperative Stewardship category at the Cooperatives Europe 20th Anniversary Awards, recognising co-operatives that have built resilience and scale while staying true to the principles that make co-operation different.

The awards mark 20 years of Cooperatives Europe representing the co-operative movement across the continent, with this year’s theme looking towards the “Next Chapter” for Europe’s economic democracy. The Cooperative Stewardship category celebrates co-operatives that are showing how democratic ownership can remain strong, relevant and resilient in a changing world.

For OurCoop, that story begins with the coming together of Central Co-op, The Midcounties Co-operative and Chelmsford Star to create the UK’s largest independent co-operative Society earlier this year.

The creation of OurCoop was rooted in a simple ambition: to protect and strengthen co-operative ownership for future generations. By combining our strengths, we have created a more resilient Society with greater buying power and capacity to invest, while continuing to put Members at the heart of how we operate.

Today, more than one million Members collectively own OurCoop, with 12,000 colleagues working across nearly 500 locations and a family of businesses spanning FoodCoop, FuneralCoop, TravelCoop, Little Pioneers, EnergyCoop, MobileCoop and BroadbandCoop.

But scale is only part of the story.

OurCoop remains grounded in the principle that the Society belongs to its Members. Through elections, Annual Members’ Meetings, Member and Community Councils, consultations and local activities, Members have a direct role in shaping the Society and the communities it serves.

That democratic ownership also influences how we invest and grow. Rather than focusing on short-term returns, OurCoop looks to create lasting value for Members and communities – from investing in stores and services to supporting local organisations, community projects and sustainable infrastructure.

Our commitment to co-operative principles extends beyond our own Society, too.

Through collaborative procurement and energy programmes, OurCoop works with other independent co-operatives to deliver savings of around £30 million every year, helping strengthen the wider movement. Our Malawi Partnership is another example of co-operation in action, working with producer co-operatives in Malawi to support sustainable livelihoods, access to clean water and environmental projects through ethical trade.

This reflects Co-operative Principle 6 – Co-operation among Co-operatives: the belief that by working together, co-operatives can build a stronger movement for everyone.

OurCoop is also continuing to respond to the challenges facing our communities and the environment. From renewable energy and solar generation across more than 130 sites, to tackling food waste through our partnership with Olio, supporting charities and community organisations, and investing in local communities, stewardship means looking beyond today.

Being named a finalist is recognition of the work of our Members and colleagues in carrying our co-operative values forward through a period of significant change.

OurCoop brings together more than 150 years of co-operative heritage, but our focus is firmly on the future – building a Society that is resilient, democratic and able to make a difference for generations to come.

We’re proud to be recognised alongside co-operatives from across Europe that are helping shape the next chapter of our movement.