Named finalist for Most Sustainable Retailer Initiative of the Year – Retail Industry Awards 2025

Central Co-op has been named a finalist for the Most Sustainable Retailer Initiative of the Year at the Retail Industry Awards 2025. This recognition highlights the continued impact of our food redistribution work in partnership with Olio, which has helped deliver over one million meals into local communities while reducing

We're finalists at the Personnel Today Awards!

We’re thrilled to share that Central Co-op has been shortlisted for not one, but two Personnel Today Awards in 2025! 🎉 We are proud finalists in both the Health & Wellbeing and Reward, Recognition and Benefits categories - a testament to the inclusive, purpose-driven culture we continue to build together.

Exploring identity and heritage: a colleague’s story for South Asian Heritage Month

As part of our celebrations for South Asian Heritage Month (18th July – 17th August), we’re proud to share the voices and lived experiences of our colleagues. Each with a unique story that highlights the richness, complexity and strength of South Asian identity. In the following article, Zaheer Iqbal -

Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month

As South Asian Heritage Month continues, we’ll be sharing more stories and reflections from colleagues and Members across the Society. It’s just one of the many ways we’re living our purpose, creating a sustainable Society for all.

Western

Gorgeous Garden Gatherings

At the Central Co-op Gardening Club, summer is an extra special time, for this is when we visit member’s gardens. It is so lovely to wonder round people’s gardens, enjoy them and take inspiration from them. In May we visited 2 member’s gardens in Cotteridge, South Brimingham.

Central Co-op to sponsor kits for 11 girls’ football teams in honour of the Lionesses’ historic summer

To celebrate the Lionesses reaching the final of this summer’s major European football tournament, we're marking the moment by backing the future of the women’s game by sponsoring 11 grassroots girls’ football teams across our trading area.  The 11 grassroots teams symbolically reflect the 11 players

Looking back at Co-op Fortnight 2025

Co-ops delivering an exceptional experience to Members and customers every day.

Eastern

Cooperative Solutions-Peterborough

Members of our Membership & Community Council facilitate a meeting in Peterborough & would love more members to join them. If you are a member of Central Coop & would like to know more please do get in touch. The next meeting is planned for Tuesday 5th August 1:45-4pm

Southern

Launch of World Builders and Co-op Painting for International Year of Co-ops

Last week, we were delighted to invite our very talented Watercolour Painting Tutor, Sophie Oakley, into our Business Support Centre to present her Co-op Painting to Central Co-op. We held a mini launch for colleagues and MCC members and Sophie presented her painting to Richard Bickle, Vice-Chair of the Board.

Eastern

Fairtrade Events in the East

Our Eastern Membership & Community Council will be hosting the following events. Everybody is welcome. Lowestoft Library- Wednesday 10th Sept- Free event (Talk & Tastings) & Thursday 18th September Members tickets £5 each (Wine & Quiz) Loddon, Saxon House- Tuesday 9th Sept Members tickets £5 each (Wine & Quiz) Please

Southern

A busy Co-op Fortnight to Celebrate International Year of Co-ops

The Southern MCC have had a busy Co-op Fortnight with lots of activities and events to mark the special occasion. Stores in Marston Moretaine, Thrapston and Grange Place in Kettering all held Golden Ticket and give aways alongside Town Fairs and Carnival days and at the Marston Moretaine store, we

Community

A visit from Malawi

At Central Co-op, co-operation goes far beyond our local communities. Through our Our Malawi Partnership, we’re building strong, meaningful connections with producers and farmers in Malawi - and during Co-op Fortnight, we had the honour of welcoming two very special guests from the Malawi Federation of Co-operatives (MAFECO) to

Community

Sew, Mend & Save

Our Membership & Community Council are supporting a wonderful new group in St.Ives. A faboulous way to meet new people, enjoy a cuppa, biscuit & a chat. The Burleigh Hill Community Centre, is right next to our store in St.Ives a wonderful friendly community. Everyone is welcome. Learn

Community

Co-operative trade that builds fairer futures!

As Our Malawi Partnership celebrates its 3rd birthday on Wednesday 2nd July 2025, we’re taking a closer look at the positive impact it has made.

Community

Celebrating Co-op Fortnight on Coalville Public Radio

Real voices, real stories – from Rochdale to right now

The land of rising co-operation

Blog by Charlotte Castille, Head of Membership Brand and Marketing.

It’s Co-op Fortnight and we have so much to celebrate.

Co-op fortnight celebrates co-operatives across the world, making a difference and putting people first in everything they do.

Our net-zero goals are officially approved

Central Co-op has had its climate targets officially approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) - a major milestone in its commitment to becoming net-zero by 2040. This means the Society’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions has been independently checked and confirmed to be in line with

Southern

Co-op History and Healthy Choices Workshop

This week, we had the pleasure of meeting 70 Asian women who are supported by the Centre for Ethnic Health, based at Leicester University. We were asked if we could come along to one of their sessions and talk about healthy life styles and they were so engaging, we presented

Southern MCC supports The Great Big Green Week

The Great Big Green Week is one of the UK's biggest celebrations calling for community action to help tackle climate change and protect nature. During the week, which this year took place on 9t-15th June, 100's of communities, schools, churches and mosques all take action to

It’s PRIDE Month!

A time for acceptance, identity and solidarity.

Three colleagues named in 2025 Role Models for Inclusion Index

We’re thrilled to share that three exceptional Central Co-op colleagues - James Butler, Georgia Hudson and Scott Ward - have been named in the 2025 Role Models for Inclusion in Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail Index. This prestigious recognition, produced by WiHTL and Diversity in Retail in collaboration with

Northern

Supporting City of Leicester College

Last week, we supported an intergenerational evening at the City of Leicester College, to support parents and students attending the College to be safe and healthy on-line and whilst out and about. We teamed up with Nusrat Hathiari, Head of Partnerships at the Worker's Education Association, who talked

Eastern

St Ives Green Week

Diary dates June 7th to 15th. St. Ives Green Week Weds June 11th. The official launch of Sew, Mend and Save - ‘Don’t throw it away. Mend it with us over a cuppa’ Join us as a repairer or bring items for repair.  2-4pm at the Burleigh Hill Community

Western

Wildlife Trust visits Co-op Gardening Group

April’s meeting of the Central Co-op Gardening Group hosted an excellent talk by Jake Williams, Conservation Manager, of The Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust (BBCWT). Jake told us of BBCWT’s projects which focus on huge landscape scale conservation such as restoring heathland, removing barriers in rivers to