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
ASHBOURNE
Position
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£14.07 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
35
Company Name
ASHBOURNE POST OFFICE - 100524
Location
PETERBOROUGH
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
ORTON STORE - 100628
Location
Leicester
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
10
Company Name
LAUNCESTON ROAD, WIGSTON STORE - 100741
Location
RIPLEY
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
14
Company Name
HARTSHAY HILL - 100773
Contract Dates
12 month Fixed Term Contract
Location
Botany Bay
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
16
Company Name
BOTANY BAY STORE - 100223
Location
FLECKNEY
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
FLECKNEY FOODSTORE - 100450
Contract Dates
08.08.2025 - 08.02.2026
Location
DISS
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
10
Company Name
RICKINGHALL STORE - 100652
Contract Dates
6 Month Fixed Term Contract
Location
Leicester
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
LEICESTER FOREST EAST STORE - 100848
Location
ST. IVES
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.06 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
25
Company Name
DENNIS EASTON FUNERAL HOME - 522642
Contract Dates
12 months
Location
STOWMARKET
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
20
Company Name
STOWUPLAND PFS - 100415
Contract Dates
1/01/2026
Location
SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£16.50 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
40
Company Name
TERRY SMITH LTD - 520001
Location
Oakham
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
12
Company Name
BRAUNSTON ROAD - 100754
Contract Dates
04/08/25 - 03/01/26