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

Space Analyst

Location
Lichfield
Department
Business Support Centre
Advertising Salary
£25,000 - £29,000
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
FORMAT AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS - 410400
Location
DONCASTER
Department
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.00 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
16
Company Name
ARMTHORPE HATFIELD LANE - 100181
Contract Dates
2 month Fixed Term Contract 16/12/24-16/2/25
Location
DERBY
Department
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£12.64 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
25
Company Name
FUNERAL OPERATIONS DERBY CENTRAL - 520800
Location
Lichfield
Department
Business Support Centre
Advertising Salary
Up to £40,000
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
PEOPLE REWARD
Latest

Store Manager

New Store
Location
Thornton Cleveleys
Department
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£42,588
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
THORNTON CLEVELEYS STORE - 100298
Latest

Team Leader

New Store
Location
Thornton Cleveleys
Department
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£13.62 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
THORNTON CLEVELEYS STORE - 100298
Latest

Team Leader

New Store
Location
Thornton Cleveleys
Department
Food Retail
Advertising Salary
£13.62 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
21
Company Name
THORNTON CLEVELEYS STORE - 100298
Location
Thornton Cleveleys
Department
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.00 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
24
Company Name
THORNTON CLEVELEYS STORE - 100298
Location
Lichfield
Department
SSC Facilities
Advertising Salary
£25,000 pa
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
FACILITIES - 410200
Internal Advertising End Date
21 Dec 2024
Location
ST. IVES
Department
Funeral
Advertising Salary
£12.64 per hour
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Hours Per Week
39
Company Name
FUNERAL OPERATIONS HUNTS - 522956
Location
Leicester
Department
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.00 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
CLARENDEN PARK ROAD STORE - 100943
Contract Dates
6 months
Location
Leicester
Department
Customer Services Assistant
Advertising Salary
£12.00 per hour
Vacancy Type
Fixed Term
Hours Per Week
8
Company Name
TURNBULL DRIVE STORE - 100918
Contract Dates
3 month fixed term