Our story so far

We’re more than a business. We're a co-op.

That means we're owned by our Members, the colleagues who work alongside us; plus, the hundreds of thousands of people who shop in our supermarkets and florists or are helped through our funeral services.

We’re an independent Co-operative Society, made up of lots of smaller societies over our 175-year history.

Central Co-op was created by the merger of the Anglia and Midlands Co-operative Societies, making us one of the largest independent retail co-operatives.

That means we’re different from The Co-op Group, but we’re guided by the same co-operative principles.

Our Heritage

Our story began over 150 years ago, when in 1844 a group of Lancastrians set up the Rochdale Pioneers Society, a co-operative movement which was to spread across the country.

At its peak in 1960 there were around 950 retail Societies in the UK. Over the years, we’ve merged together to form fewer, larger Societies.

Central Co-op Today

You’ll find us in 21 counties across Central England, with over 7,500 colleagues and over 300,000 Members.

Our food business has 244 shops, 20 petrol stations and 7 Insomnia coffee shops. Our funeral business has 176 funeral homes, our funeral plan business, 9 florists, a crematorium, a coffin factory, and a masonry business, offering end to end care for our families.

We’re working together to create a sustainable Society for all.

Our relationship with other co-operative societies

We’re part of the wider co-operative movement, and in the true spirit of co-operation we work with each other so that, as part of a larger unit, we have the buying power of much bigger companies through economies of scale.

Find your fit

Location
Shepshed
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.43 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
32
Company Name
MASONRY - 520287
Location
Chelmsford
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
HAVENGORE - 100363
Location
HOLMFIRTH
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
SPRINGWOOD ROAD, THONGSBRIDGE - 100342
Latest

Team Leader

Location
Rainhill
Position
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£14.20 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
RAINHILL STORE - 100166
Location
Alconbury Weald
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
24
Company Name
ALCONBURY WEALD STORE - 100244
Contract Dates
6 month fixed term 01/10/2026 to 01/03/2026
Location
HUNTINGDON
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.43 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
37.5
Company Name
HUNTINGDON FUNERAL HOME - 522256
Contract Dates
12-month fixed term contract
Location
Nottingham
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
40
Company Name
TERRY SMITH LTD - 520001
Location
Lichfield
Position
Finance
Advertising Salary
Competitive
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
FINANCIAL CONTROL - 200100
Internal Advertising End DateInternal Advertising End Date:
30 Sep 2026
Location
Leicester
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.43 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
FUNERAL OPERATIONS LEICESTER CENTRAL - 520870
Latest

Fixer Mason

Location
Loughborough
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.43 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
FUNERAL - 520000
Internal Advertising End DateInternal Advertising End Date:
14 Oct 2026
Location
Lichfield
Position
Food
Advertising Salary
up to £95,000 per annum
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
FOOD COMMERCIAL - 107301
Internal Advertising End DateInternal Advertising End Date:
29 Sep 2026
Location
Congleton
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
CONGLETON - 100247