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

Latest

Team Leader

Location
East Tilbury
Position
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£14.20 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
20
Company Name
EAST TILBURY - 100361
Location
CHESTERFIELD
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
16
Company Name
HOLMEHALL STORE - 110063
Contract Dates
6 month fixed term
Location
Lichfield
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
12
Company Name
BIRMINGHAM ROAD, LICHFIELD - 100268
Location
Chelmsford
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
12
Company Name
HAVENGORE - 100363
Location
Nottingham
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
CLIFTON, SOUTHCHURCH DRIVE - 100727
Location
Aldridge
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.43 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
30
Company Name
ALDRIDGE OPERATIONS VEHICLE LOGISTICS - 523051
Location
Reepham
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
REEPHAM, STATION ROAD - 100242
Location
Stafford
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour FTE
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
10
Company Name
WESTON ROAD STORE - 100709
Contract Dates
6 months fixed term contract
Location
Tamworth
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
16
Company Name
BROOKLIME WAY TAMWORTH STORE - 100129
Contract Dates
10/07/26- 10/10/26
Location
Tamworth
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
12
Company Name
BROOKLIME WAY TAMWORTH STORE - 100129
Contract Dates
10/07/26-10/10/26
Location
Tamworth
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
12
Company Name
BROOKLIME WAY TAMWORTH STORE - 100129
Contract Dates
10/07/26-10/10/26
Location
SOMERCOTES
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.75 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
12
Company Name
SOMERCOTES STORE - 100921