The Co-op Group Wednesday launched one of its biggest ever campaigns to encourage the UK into a nation of co-operators, explaining the benefits both financially and socially of a cooperative business model.
The 180-year-old cooperative launched the ‘Owned by You. Right By You’ campaign as a new survey revealed that over 50 per cent of consumers admit they don’t understand what it means when a business is a co-operative or a mutual and two fifths (42%) admit they don't understand what constitutes a co-operative, or how being part of one could benefit themselves and their communities.
This contrasts with many European countries where co-operative businesses are integral to the culture and infrastructure of the nation, and being a member of a co-operative is the norm for the majority of citizens, Co-op noted. In the European Union, over 140 million people, who constitute 31 per cent of the EU's population, are members of a cooperative.
Despite the lack of understanding amongst UK consumers, they state that quality products (82%), community support (71%), and ethical practices (65%) are most important when choosing a local business. Additionally, there is a strong alignment between consumer values and cooperative practices, with 30 per cent of consumers deterred by misalignment of values and 34 per cent by unethical business spending.
The new Labour government has pledged to double the size of the UK’s co-operative and mutuals sector in its manifesto as part of its support for diverse business models. Research from Co-op indicates a growing public demand for more diverse models as over half of consumers (55%) are keen to see more co-operatives in business and would give them more backing.
“This new research shows there's a real appetite for a different way of doing business in the UK – one that is fairer, more ethical and puts power in the hands of communities,” Kenyatte Nelson, chief customer and membership officer at Co-op, said.
“At Co-op, we have been proudly delivering this across the UK for 180 years. By tackling this lack of awareness head-on, we aim to help even more people find businesses that share their values. Compared to our UK counterparts, as a business owned by you, we do right by you.”
The new campaign will run until 21 August, launching with the advert airing tonight during Coronation Street on ITV1 and STV with a bespoke introduction as part of ITV's Proud to Present. In an ITV first, Co-op will tease the advert with the ITV logo turning black and white to look like a receipt, mirroring the campaign creative.
“Now is the time to champion the co-operative model and demonstrate how it provides a solution to many of the challenges we face today. That's why we are on a mission to re-introduce Co-op's core values and principles to the UK. Through our latest campaign, we hope to remind our customers that by simply shopping at Co-op as a member-owner, you get a say in how the business is run, lower prices on the products and services you need and, the opportunity to create better societal outcomes in the communities where you live,” Nelson added.
The Co-op currently has just over five million members who own the business, can have a say in how it is run, alongside how it spends its profits and who benefit financially every time they shop through member only pricing and exclusive member offers, where they can save up to £500 a year.
Earlier this year, the retailer has announced ambitions to substantially grow its membership from 5 million to 8 million by 2030.
A persistent shoplifter targeting stores in Northumbria is now behind bars after stealing from a South Tyneside store just weeks after being handed a suspended sentence for the same offences.
As informed by Northumbria Police on Thursday (13), Michael Wright, 35, visited the Co-op store on Mortimer Road in South Shields last Thursday (6) and took laundry products without paying.
Less than a month earlier, Wright was given a 14-week suspended sentence by South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court for stealing chicken from the same Co-op store, and toiletries from the Sainsbury’s on Prince Edward Road.
After being quickly identified as responsible, Wright, of Lumley Avenue, South Shields, was arrested on Sunday (9) in connection with his latest spree of offending. The South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday (10) was sentenced him to 22 weeks imprisonment.
Following his court appearance, Constable Thubron, of South Shields Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), said, “Wright is a repeat thief who has flagrantly disregarded his previous suspended sentence he was given only weeks prior.
“Wright has a vast history of this type of offending – and his brazen attitude towards the orders imposed on him by a court shows his lack of regard for anyone his criminality affects.
“Crime sprees such as these do nothing except leave businesses out of pocket, and I’m pleased he’s now behind bars to prevent him causing more disorder in the local community.
“As a Force, we will continue to tackle this type of criminality.”
Rapid rise in retail crime continues to impact stores across the country with multiple industry as well as government reports showing the similar record levels of theft, abuse and violence against shop workers.
Meanwhile in Essex, two prolific shoplifters who stole almost £20,000 worth of goods have been sentenced after being caught with stolen items in their car.
Thomas McDonagh, 21, of Warren Crescent, Headington, Oxford, was jailed for 16 months after admitting to eight counts of theft across Essex in December 2024 and January 2025. His accomplice, Martin Stokes, 23, of Aylesbury Street, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, received a 16-week jail term, suspended for 18 months, and must complete 80 hours of unpaid work.
The duo were stopped by police on 19 January while driving on the A12. Officers had linked them to multiple thefts from Boots and Next in the Stane Park retail area in Stanway, Colchester.
Upon stopping their Ford Focus, police found the boot packed with stolen goods, swiftly connecting them to 11 separate shoplifting incidents across the county, including in Chelmer Village, Chelmsford.
Snacking giant pladis has announced David Murray, currently leader of its UK and Ireland enterprise, will transition to the newly created position of global chief commercial officer.
After five years at the helm of pladis UK&I, Murray’s new role will see him take ownership of the company’s global platform and brand strategy along with its commercial transformation.
Mete Buyurgan will become the new managing director of pladis across Britain and Ireland effective 6 April.
Buyurgan, a pladis veteran of eight years, joins the Anglo-Irish division of the company from its Turkish, Eastern Europe and Central Asian operations which he ran since 2016.
Under his stewardship, pladis Türkiye, Eastern Europe and Central Asia grew revenue and profit despite significant headwinds and positioned itself at the forefront of the sustainability debate.
“While our brands like McVitie’s and Ülker have been part of peoples’ lives for decades, pladis is still a young business having started life nine years ago,” Geraldine Fraser, chief human resources officer, said.
“We have made tremendous progress together on our mission to build one of the world’s fastest growing snacks companies. Today, we take another step on that journey to evolve our business and position us for continued growth in an ever-changing retail and consumer landscape.”
Founded in 2016, pladis’ 16,000-strong team makes food across 27 bakeries and factories in 11 countries with its brands, like McVitie’s, Ülker and Flipz sold in more than 110 nations. pladis group revenue topped £2.7 billion in its most recent financial year ending 2023.
More than £20,000 worth of illicit tobacco and vapes were seized from multiple premises in an one-day operation in Meir by Trading Standards team along with officers from Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police.
The operation is the latest across the city that resulted in 13 shops being closed in the last 12 months, and forms part of Operation Cece, which is a National Trading Standards initiative in Partnership with HMRC to tackle illegal tobacco.
Under the latest one day action, officers raided three shops in the area after reports of underage sales of illegal vapes and tobacco to children as young as 12.
The significant operation seized 1,084 packets of cigarettes, over 1,500 vapes and 165 large pouches of rolling tobacco.
The retail value was estimated at more than £20,000, plus more than £12,000 in evaded duty. Officers also seized 12 key rings that were either unsafe or had trademark issues.
Several people with no right to work in the UK, and other immigration issues, were found and their cases passed to the Home Office.
Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability - said, “We will not tolerate the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes, which put residents at risk and cheat the taxpayer out of public money.
“Our Trading Standards teams are working round the clock to get illegal tobacco and vapes off the streets, and out of the hands of children. All forming part of corporate strategy and specifically helping to reclaim our streets.
Inspector Rebecca Price, from the Stoke South local policing team, said, “We’re working closely with the city council and wider partners in Stoke-on-Trent to tackle issues affecting local communities as part of our ongoing Making Great Places initiative.
“Retailers not complying with the law and putting local people at risk of harm are being targeted robustly on a proactive basis as part of this commitment, and I can assure local communities that similar enforcement alongside our colleagues will continue.”
The premises are now under investigation, and are facing possible criminal prosecutions including under the Licensing Act.
The Trading Standards work forms part of the city council mission to be a cleaner, greener and safer city for all who live, work and visit Stoke-on-Trent.
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Don Julio Tequila, owned by Diageo. The spirits giant sells billions of dollars worth of tequila and Canadian whisky in the US.
Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for Flipper's Boogie Palace
Spirits giant Diageo has suggested the US government consider tougher rules of origin requirements in trade agreements as an alternative to tariffs, a letter to the US Trade Representative showed.
In the March 11 letter, Diageo, the world's top spirits maker caught in the crossfire of US president Donald Trump's effort to remake global trade, argued that new rules of origin could support his aims and benefit the industry.
Such rules could give preference to goods, including alcoholic drinks, in which all ingredients and subcomponents are substantially sourced within the US or via its key trading partners, Alden Schacher, vice president of government relations at Diageo North America wrote.
This would deepen US supply chains, prevent "foreign adversaries" from using US trade partners to circumvent tariffs and support the administration's policy objectives such as growing the US economy, said the letter, one of hundreds published by the USTR from firms and trade associations about tariffs.
Diageo's proposed rules of origin would require that plants or grains used in the production of imported alcohol come from the US or the territory of a strategic trade partner - any country that has a trade agreement with the US, such as Mexico and Canada.
The company also suggested that the rules ensure the distillation also occurs in the US or the territory of the same partner, with any barrels used in ageing also sourced from one of those places.
Diageo sells billions of dollars worth of tequila and Canadian whisky in the United States. Executives have warned Trump's threatened 25 per cent tariffs on Mexico and Canada could deal a $200 million hit to operating profit in the company's second half alone, before mitigation measures.
In the letter, Schacher wrote that trade in distilled spirits is largely reciprocal and therefore actions to address imbalances are not necessary.
Schacher pointed out that Diageo employs thousands of US workers, has 11 US manufacturing sites, and spends $650 million every year on US inputs including barrels, glass and cans.
(Reuters)
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Asda Express stores offset sales dip at the supermarket
Asda on Friday reported a decline in its annual sales for the 2024 financial year, but the retailer has seen profits rising on margin gains.
The supermarket chain said its total revenue for the year to 31 December 2024 declined by 0.8 per cent to £21.7 billion, while like-for-like sales (excluding fuel) were lower by 3.4 per cent.
Asda grew adjusted EBITDA after rent by 5.8 per cent to £1.14bn during the year, driven by improved gross margins, particularly in non-food reflecting the strength and scale of its George business, as well as a full year of profit from the 356 Asda Express convenience stores and forecourt sites acquired from EG Group.
“Everyone is focused on making Asda the number one choice again for busy hard-working families who demand value. This is what’s driving all of our actions across pricing, ranging, merchandising and every part of the business,” Allan Leighton, Asda’s executive chairman, said.
Since the year end, Asda stepped up its investment in value by bringing back its Rollback to Asda Price proposition. Launched at the end of January, with an average reduction of 25 per cent across 4,000 popular products, Rollback has now been expanded to roughly a quarter of Asda’s entire range.
Asda said it will add thousands more products to Rollback at regular intervals during the year as part of its strategic shift to move its entire product range to a new low ‘Asda Price’ by the end of 2026.
Asda delivered £0.6bn in free cashflow during FY24, which helped reduce net leverage to 2.9x (FY23: 3.0x). The retailer said this enables it to invest in new value propositions like Rollback and Asda Price.
During the year Asda refinanced the vast majority of its 2025 and 2026 maturities of £3.2bn, including paying down £0.3bn from cash. This pushed out all the remaining maturities into the next decade.
“Looking ahead we still have plenty of work to get our business firing on all cylinders again,” Leighton said.
“While regaining customers’ trust will take time, we will undertake a substantive and well backed programme of investment in price, availability and the shopping experience to deliver this. This will materially reduce our profitability this year, which we expect to reverse as our market share recovers and improves over time.”