OurCoop, the UK’s largest independent co-operative, has published its interim report for the first half 2027.
The society, formed in January through the merger of Central and Midcounties Co-ops, and Chelmsford Star the previous year, has reported a trading profit of £4.5m for the period, compared with £4.5m at Central in the equivalent period last year.
It also reported gross sales of £1.3bn and savings of £2.3m from bringing the societies together, £900,000 ahead of plan.
“Bringing the three societies together has created opportunities to reduce shared costs and make better use of resources,” said CEO Debbie Robinson. “In our first half year as OurCoop, we have delivered on our integration commitments: maintaining stable trading profit, achieving savings ahead of plan and keeping leverage in line with our plan.
“Alongside this, we have invested in frontline pay and reward for colleagues across OurCoop. These are deliberate choices that are reflected in our reported profit.
“We are also putting our energy into helping members benefit from our family of businesses. A single membership connects members to a range of services that support them through everyday life and at important moments.”
In the report, OurCoop added that it has invested £12m in new sites, refurbishments, maintenance and in-store technology, and generated £8.6m of member value, compared with £4.5m at Central in the equivalent period last year.
But Robinson notes there is more to do. “By adopting the most efficient ways of working from across our founding societies, we can reduce unnecessary tasks, remove duplication and lower costs,” she said. “With our key technology decisions already made, our focus is now on implementing those systems, making full use of their capabilities and exploring the potential of AI to help us create a simpler operating model.”
At the Interim Members Meeting on 21 October, members voted in favour of changing the society’s legal name to OurCoop Limited, with the process of formally adopting the new legal name under way.
OurCoop has invested £8m in colleague pay so far this year, says the report, through increases in April and October. Frontline pay across the three founding societies has been aligned more than a year ahead of the original timetable. The society also reports that the number of members using two or more of its businesses (food, travel, funeral care, early years, energy, mobile and broadband services) has doubled since OurCoop was formed in January.
Member purchases now account for 39% of total revenue, while renewable energy from OurCoop’s offshore wind and solar partnerships now provides the equivalent of around 22% of the society’s electricity needs.
OurCoop’s achievements have also been recognised with the King’s Award for Enterprise, Best Use of Technology at the Retail Industry Awards and Major Project of the Year at the National Sustainability Awards. Robinson was also named NACS Convenience Industry Leader of the Year Europe.
But the society sounded a note of caution, with conflict in the Middle East and the effects of extreme weather continuing to impact food production and supply around the world. These “are expected to keep trading conditions challenging in 2027 and beyond”, it warned.
The society said it will remain focused on its co-operative difference, “delivering value for members and achieving sustainable sales and profit growth”.
Priorities for the remainder of the year include strengthening the family of businesses, making it easier for members to access and benefit from services across the society, and realising further synergies, it added.
“Bringing our societies together is a two-year programme,” said Robinson. “From the outset, we have prioritised member value, colleague safety, pay alignment and ensuring our sites meet safety and compliance standards. As we look ahead, there are further opportunities to make the most of our shared resources and expertise, reducing tasks and creating a simpler operating model.
“My thanks go to our board, executive team and colleagues for their continued hard work and the care they bring to OurCoop. As we continue to build our society, our focus remains on supporting colleagues, delivering value for members and serving our communities.”
