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
King's Lynn
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.43 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
30
Company Name
FUNERAL OPERATIONS KINGS LYNN - 522900
Location
King's Lynn
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.43 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
20
Company Name
FUNERAL OPERATIONS KINGS LYNN - 522900
Location
GLOUCESTER
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.43 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
30
Company Name
FUNERAL OPERATIONS GLOUCESTER - 523843
Latest

Team Leader

Location
HOLMFIRTH
Position
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£14.20 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
20
Company Name
SPRINGWOOD ROAD, THONGSBRIDGE - 100342
Location
DERBY
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
12
Company Name
ASHBOURNE ROAD - 100761
Location
Lichfield
Position
Commercial
Advertising Salary
Competitive
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
FOOD COMMERCIAL - 107301
Internal Advertising End DateInternal Advertising End Date:
17 Jul 2026
Location
DERBY
Position
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
12
Company Name
LITTLE EATON STORE - 100432
Location
CAMBRIDGE
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
12
Company Name
CAMBOURNE STORE - 100654
Contract Dates
6 months
Location
SUTTON COLDFIELD
Position
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£46,816.12 per annum
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
WALMLEY CLOSE STORE - 110307
Latest

Team Leader

Location
LOWESTOFT
Position
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£14.20 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
32
Company Name
KIRKLEY STORE - 100649
Contract Dates
4/10/26 - 2/10/26
Latest

Team Leader

Location
LOWESTOFT
Position
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£14.20 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
20
Company Name
KIRKLEY STORE - 100649
Contract Dates
4/10/26 - 2/10/27
Location
Leicester
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
AIKMAN AVENUE STORE - 100867
Contract Dates
6 Month FTC