Southern Co-op has launched a four-week giveaway that will see up to 10,000 customers have their shopping paid for, as the regional co-operative continues to focus on supporting communities through periods of financial pressure.
The initiative, which runs from 22 July to 21 August across all 173 stores, reflects Southern Co-op's commitment to delivering value for customers beyond price – creating moments of goodwill at the tills while also contributing to the wider retail community through a partnership with the Retail Trust.
For every free shop given away, Southern Co-op will donate £1 to the Retail Trust, the charity that provides mental health and wellbeing support, financial assistance and career development to retail workers and their families across the UK.
The summer giveaway follows similar activity at Christmas, which saw Southern Co-op give away hundreds of free festive shops alongside £75,000 in grants to local causes through its Winter Fund.
The free shops initiative has been designed with ease of execution in mind. Winners are selected at random via the till system at both main checkouts and self-service, requiring no manual intervention from colleagues – though store teams will be on hand to share in the moment with customers.
"As a co-operative, we're always looking for ways to give back to the communities we serve, and the summer holidays can be a particularly challenging time for families managing the costs of keeping children fed and entertained,” said Anuj Christie, Head of Store Operations.
"This initiative is about creating genuine moments of surprise and delight for our customers, while also supporting the wider retail sector through our partnership with the Retail Trust. For every free shop we give away, we're contributing to vital support for retail workers who may be facing challenges of their own.
"Our colleagues will play a central role in bringing this to life on the shop floor, and it's a great example of what being a co-operative is really about – people supporting people."
The offer runs until 21 August 2026 and is available at all Southern Co-op stores. No purchase is necessary.