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
BURNTWOOD
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
HIGHFIELDS ROAD STORE, CHASETOWN - 100748
Contract Dates
6 month Fixed Term Contract
Location
Lancashire
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
16
Company Name
THORNTON CLEVELEYS STORE - 100298
Contract Dates
18-3-26 18-6-26
Latest

Team Leader

Location
HUNTINGDON
Position
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£14.07 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
GODMANCHESTER, BEARSCROFT ROAD - 100402
Location
Burton-on-Trent
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.06 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
25
Company Name
BRETBY CREMATORIUM - 520030
Location
SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
30
Company Name
HUTHWAITE ROAD - 100774
Location
Leicester
Position
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
10
Company Name
BLABY CAFE, ENDERBY ROAD - 100153
Contract Dates
6 months fixed term contract
Location
Botany Bay
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
12
Company Name
BOTANY BAY STORE - 100223
Internal Advertising End DateInternal Advertising End Date:
29 Mar 2026
Location
Kettering
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
GRANGE PLACE KETTERING STORE - 100942
Contract Dates
6 months
Location
HUNTINGDON
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
GODMANCHESTER, BEARSCROFT ROAD - 100402
Contract Dates
20.03.2026 - 20.09.2026
Location
Mungo Park
Advertising Salary
12.21
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
16
Company Name
MUNGO PARK - 100352
Location
GLOUCESTER
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.49 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
FUNERAL OPERATIONS GLOUCESTER - 523843
Location
Lichfield
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
LICHFIELD SUPERSTORE - 100203
Contract Dates
12 month fixed term contract