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
BICESTER
Department
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.06 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
25
Company Name
BICESTER FUNERAL - 523040
Internal Advertising End Date
31 May 2025
Location
OXFORD
Department
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.06 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
25
Company Name
OXFORD FUNERAL - 523032
Internal Advertising End Date
31 May 2025
Location
Lichfield
Department
Talent
Advertising Salary
£27,256.32 per annum
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
TALENT AND ENGAGEMENT - 300100
Internal Advertising End Date
31 May 2025
Location
Leicester
Department
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.06 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
FUNERAL SOUTH CLUSTER 1 - 520291
Latest

Team Leader

Location
SUTTON COLDFIELD
Department
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£14.07 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
WALMLEY CLOSE STORE - 110307
Location
SUTTON COLDFIELD
Department
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
WALMLEY CLOSE STORE - 110307
Contract Dates
6 month Fixed Term Contract
Location
CHESTERFIELD
Department
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
16
Company Name
NORTH WINGFIELD CHESTERFIELD SUPERSTORE - 100309
Location
Thornton Cleveleys
Department
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
16
Company Name
THORNTON CLEVELEYS STORE - 100298
Location
Nottingham
Department
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
16
Company Name
BEESTON - 100427
Contract Dates
11/5/25-11/11/25
Location
SOMERCOTES
Department
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
12
Company Name
SOMERCOTES STORE - 100921
Contract Dates
6 month
Latest

Customer Services Assistant

New Store
Location
Botany Bay
Department
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
16
Company Name
BOTANY BAY STORE - 100223
Location
Burton-on-Trent
Department
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
12
Company Name
ROLLESTON-ON-DOVE STORE - 100495
Contract Dates
6 months