Co-op Group hits significant milestone in campaign to reach 5m members

The Manchester-based Co-op Group is half way to reaching five million active members, just seven months into its five-year plan.

The member-owned business announced plans in April this year to attract one million new member owners by 2028.

So far this year the Co-op has invested £90m overall into prices with member owners now saving 7.5% on average on essential everyday items such as milk and eggs in comparison with what they would pay at other convenience retailers, it said.

Member ownership is now at an eight-year high and the Co-op and its member owners have supported more than 36,000 local community fund causes, totaling in excess of £100m.

Earlier this month the Co-op announced that, rather than spend a fortune in the battle of the Christmas adverts, it is doing things differently this festive season and keeping it simple by focusing on the ‘gift of community spirit’, calling on donations from its member owners and customers, with a pledge to match the funds raised.

Shirine Khoury-Haq, Co-op CEO, said “We’re putting our member owners at the heart of our Co-op. Our member owners don’t just benefit from our best prices and exclusive offers, but they also have a say in how we are run, and the opportunity to support the causes closest to them and their communities.

“This Christmas we are going even further to make a difference in local communities by matching member and customer donations to local communities.”