{"id":2182247,"date":"2026-11-05T14:24:15","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T14:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/northwest\/?p=2182247"},"modified":"2026-11-05T14:24:15","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T14:24:15","slug":"co-op-group-and-southern-co-op-given-cma-green-light-to-join-forces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/northwest\/news\/2182247-co-op-group-and-southern-co-op-given-cma-green-light-to-join-forces","title":{"rendered":"Co-op Group and Southern Co-op given CMA green light to join forces"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Manchester-based Co-operative Group and Southern Co-op have today (November 5) received approval from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to join forces, marking a significant milestone for both organisations and the wider co-operative movement.<\/span><\/p>\n

The decision means Co-op Group and Southern Co-op can now begin the process of bringing the businesses together and progressing detailed migration plans.<\/span><\/p>\n

It follows the completion of the Transfer of Engagements earlier this year, which saw Southern Co-op\u2019s businesses transfer to Siena Co-operative Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Co-op Group.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two businesses have continued to operate separately while the CMA conducted its review.<\/span><\/p>\n

CMA approval marks the start of the next chapter for the two organisations, bringing together more than 300 years of co-operative heritage and creating a stronger co-operative society with greater scale, resilience and impact for members, customers, colleagues and communities across the UK.<\/span><\/p>\n

Southern Co-op currently has: 173 food stores; 83 Starbucks Coffeehouses; 69 funeral homes; 3 crematoria; 4 burial grounds; 70+ Welcome franchise stores; Circa 330,000 members.<\/span><\/p>\n

As part of the remedies agreed to secure CMA approval for the transaction, 15 convenience stores and two funeral homes across the combined estate will be divested.<\/span><\/p>\n

Complementing Co-op Group\u2019s: 2,300 food stores; 800 funeral homes; Wholesale business supplying around 8,000 outlets; Leading Legal Services and Insurance businesses; 7.5 million members.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Work will now begin to bring the businesses together, with the timing of migration differing across different parts of the organisations.<\/span><\/p>\n

For now, both businesses will continue to operate as normal while detailed migration plans are finalised.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kate Allum, interim CEO of The Co-operative Group, said: \u201cToday is a significant moment for our two societies and the wider co-operative movement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCMA approval gives us the green light to begin an exciting new chapter of co-operation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBy bringing together more than 300 years of co-operative heritage, we have the opportunity to build an even stronger Co-op, with greater scale and resilience, and the ability to deliver more for our members, customers and communities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben Stimson, CEO of Southern Co-op, said: “We can now build on Southern Co-op’s achievements and take the strengths of our business forward into the next chapter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to thank colleagues and members for their continued support. Our priority is to maintain our shared values and strengthen the co-operative movement as we join forces in earnest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He added: \u201cWe\u2019ll keep supporting our colleagues and serving our customers and clients brilliantly through the transition.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The two organisations have a long standing history of working together, including through the Federal Retail Trading Society (FRTS) buying and supply group and wider collaboration across the co-operative movement.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Both businesses will continue to operate as normal while detailed migration plans are finalised<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":217725,"featured_media":2162675,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47995],"coauthors":[46761],"class_list":["post-2182247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retail","tag-featured-story","tag-greater-manchester"],"yoast_head":"\nCo-op Group and Southern Co-op given CMA green light to join forces<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Both businesses will continue to operate as normal while detailed migration plans are finalised\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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