Salute Co-op’s local heroes

Dedicated staff show spirit of co-operation to beat the big freeze

CLOSE ENCOUNTER … Manchester’s Metrolink tram system was disrupted when a Co-op delivery lorry got stuck on the ice outside the Co-op Bank in Balloon Street during the big freeze. However the driver skilfully manoeuvred his vehicle off the tram track without assistance, several minutes later

January 20 2010

The extraordinary dedication, professionalism and commitment of Co-op staff around the country during the worst winter weather in 30 years has been praised by Co-operative Group Chief Executive Peter Marks.

Co-operative stores around the country overcame the atrocious weather conditions to remain open and serve their local communities during the big freeze — and Mr Marks was quick to salute the contribution of loyal Co-op workers, who showed the real meaning of co-operation in appalling conditions.

Said Mr Marks: “Many staff have gone the extra mile to ensure our products and services remained available to customers. I want to thank everyone for their efforts and I know our customers are very grateful, too.”

With apologies to the thousands of other unsung employees who also did their bit to keep the wheels of co-operative retail turning, here’s a dozen examples from around the country of how the Movement’s local heroes went that extra mile during the past few weeks:

• The store manager at Grasmere, in the Lake District, who walked four miles from his home in Ambleside to open his food store, then walked back to Ambleside to open the store there when he heard the manager was unable to make it.

• The manager of the Somerfield petrol forecourt at Charvil, near Reading, who slept overnight in his office in case he was unable to get back to the store if he travelled home.

• Staff at the Co-op Group Pharmacy in Stevenage who helped a passer-by who slipped on ice and was losing blood from a head injury. They followed instructions from the emergency services until an ambulance arrived.

• Staff at the food store in Bellingham, Northumberland, who visited a housebound customer, collected her shopping list, did her shopping and delivered it to her.

• Staff at The Co-operative Farms packhouse at Carnoustie, near Dundee, who gave up their Hogmanay celebrations in a local pub to spend the night packing potatoes in order to meet demand.

• The Co-operative Pharmacy in Hyde, Greater Manchester, where the pharmacist supported a rival community pharmacy nearby whose pharmacist hadn’t been able to get to work.

• The Trading Manager at Somerfield in Kingswood, who walked to work from Keynsham six miles away.

• Two colleagues who each worked a 12 hour shift to ensure a petrol station forecourt remained open round the clock in Barnsley.

• A food store manager at Cross Hands, near Llanelli, who drove a 90-mile round trip to collect staff from their homes and take them home again after work.

• Ten staff at a Group food store in Settle, North Yorkshire, who between them travelled an aggregate round trip of 279 miles in very difficult conditions to ensure the shop stayed open.

• The Co-operative Electrical Shop staff who trudged 300 yards through snow carrying a fridge-freezer.

• A delivery driver in Lanarkshire who helped a stranded woman motorist, with a car full of children, change a flat tyre as the AA couldn’t get to her.

East of England Co-operative Chief Executive Richard Samson has also thanked society staff for keeping stores open and supplied during the wintry weather.

Said Mr Samson: “Credit is due to everyone at our Food Distribution Centre, particularly our drivers, who pulled out all the stops to get through the icy conditions to ensure continuity of supply.

“I’d like to thank my colleagues across the society for their commitment and diligence. All our stores remained open during the adverse weather conditions, which was much appreciated by our members and customers.”

Category: Retail Societies