Pioneering Co-op scheme helps students bear the cost of living

RETAILER The Co-operative Food has joined with the National Union of Students to develop a new students-only discount scheme.

The scheme will entitle cash-strapped students to a 10% discount on their groceries provided they carry a special loyalty card.

The Midcounties Co-operative, which has 32 stores in the West Midlands, is working in conjunction with five other Co-operative societies to launch the discount to students across the country.
 
The Co-operative Food is the first supermarket to offer such a deal. The discount will be available to almost 600,000 students with an NUS extra card, who will receive a discount at Co-operative Food stores.

To launch the deal and drive awareness with students The Midcounties Co-operative will be attending freshers fairs at key university locations in Wolverhampton, Gloucestershire and Oxford.
 
Mark Wilson, Group General Manager, Food Retail at The Midcounties Co-operative, said: “As a community-based retailer with 32 stores in the region we wanted to help students, many of whom are living away from home for the first time, to live and cook on a budget. This is an exciting initiative that we proud to be supporting in our stores and we look forward to introducing students to The Midcounties Co-operative to use their discount.”
 
NUS extra uses collective purchasing power to champion students by enabling access to exclusive promotional deals through the card, sales of which put millions of pounds annually back into student unions.
 
Raechel Mattey, NUS Vice President said: “When we asked our students what they most wanted from NUS extra, a supermarket deal was the overwhelming answer. We’re so proud to be able to partner with The Co-operative on this, because of its ethical food policies and its support for Fairtrade.  
 
“This deal reflects the realities of students’ lives by addressing finance and the rising cost of living, nutrition and student lifestyle priorities.”