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
BIRMINGHAM
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.06 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
22.5
Company Name
WEST BROMWICH FUNERAL - 520224
Location
WORCESTER
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.06 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
30
Company Name
GEORGE CRUMP & SON FUNERAL DIRECTORS - 520008
Location
Kettering
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
BELL HILL ROTHWELL STORE - 100895
Location
Kettering
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
DESBOROUGH FOODSTORE - 100180
Contract Dates
6 months fixed
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
01/04/25
Location
HALESOWEN
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£15.50 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
FUNERAL WEST CLUSTER 4 - 520291
Location
Botany Bay
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
BOTANY BAY STORE - 100223
Contract Dates
01/02/2025
Location
SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
10
Company Name
MANSFIELD ROAD, SKEGBY STORE - 100798
Contract Dates
6 month rolling contract
Location
Lancashire
Position
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.40 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
THORNTON CLEVELEYS STORE - 100298
Contract Dates
01-02-26
Location
Leicester
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£13.06 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
20
Company Name
FUNERAL SOUTH CLUSTER 1 - 520291
Latest

Embalmer

Location
Staffordshire
Position
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£15.50 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
FUNERAL WEST CLUSTER 3 - 520291
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
6 month fixed term contract