Members’ Meetings

Annual Members’ meeting – Results of voting

Our Annual Members’ meeting was held on Wednesday 30 April and more than 1,200 Members joined us at our meetings in Leicester, Lichfield, Derby, Chesterfield, Lowestoft and online.

If you missed it, don’t worry. You can watch the recording of the broadcast meeting below

Central Co-op Members voted on six motions during the meeting. The results can be found here

We’d like to thank our Members for attending our annual Members’ meeting and for participating in our democracy.

Our 2025 Annual Report and highlights:

Member’s Meetings Questions and Answers

Do ground source heat pumps form any part of your environmental strategy?

We’d explored ground source heat pumps but found that they were not practical due to the small footprint of our sites, also there are more cost-effective solutions. An example being, we’ve installed air-source heat pumps in most of our sites, which is equally energy efficient.

Are we going to develop a strategy for our remaining larger stores?

We are developing a tailored strategy for our larger stores. We recognise the differing requirement in operating large stores vs small convenience stores.

Why has the Society closed many stores in the Leicestershire region, and how do we communicate to members when we close stores?

We constantly review our trading estate to ensure we are operating in the right locations to serve our local communities.

We’ve worked on our strategy across all areas of our business, to build a clear growth plan to deliver on our mission of creating a sustainable Society for all. We continue to invest in new openings, expanding our trading area and have an extensive regeneration pipeline.

How many customers do you really believe understand Co-operative values when they are shopping, and how do you promote them?

We’re constantly reminding Members and customers of our place within the wider Co-operative movement. We share regular communications, such as a Member Blog and Member newsletter, which include increased references to our Society as part of the wider co-operative movement during Co-op Fortnight and Fairtrade fortnight.

Is the Society looking at a scan-pay-go option across its stores?

We’re constantly reviewing progress and success in Scan-pay-go in our stores. Our stores are spread across a wide demographic and different approaches suit different sites

Is the Society planning to offer the Instant type of Cremation Plans so often seen in TV Adverts?

We currently offer direct cremation plans; it is our most popular Funeral product

Will the Society’s crematoriums be able to offer water cremation (known as Resomation) in the near future?

Resomation isn’t currently legal in the UK only burial and cremation are. We continue to keep an eye on legislation in this area and will explore possibilities once it’s an option. We aim to provide as much choice as possible for our clients, so they decide the best type of funeral for the person who has died.

Will members’ meeting take place in Birmingham in future years?

We aim to reach as many communities as we can across our trading estate and held a satellite Members’ Meeting at Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham recently. We’ll continue to explore options that work best for our Society and our Members

Why isn’t more local produce available in stores, particularly bakeries, micro-brewers, etc.

We currently offer direct cremation plans; it is our most popular product

Why do you have to attend a meeting to vote on the motions?

Our Rules currently require members to attend a meeting in person or online to vote on motions.

Why does the Co-op continue with multi-buys, which disadvantage members/shoppers only wanting one item and which probably also increase food waste?

We share a wide range of Member process and incentives in addition to multibuys. Our Members also receive points for shopping with us and a share of our profits that they can spend as they wish.

What is the Society doing to help members, customers and colleagues understand the different Societies, membership schemes and cards?

We’re constantly reminding Members and colleagues of the differences in Societies and their respective Member cards. For colleagues, we have a mandatory training module online for all colleagues to complete and we consistently share information through events like Co-op fortnight as well as ongoing internal comms.

For customers we share regular communications, such as a Member Blog and Member newsletter, that include references to our Society as part of the wider co-operative movement.

Will colleagues still receive a discount under the new membership scheme?

Instead of receiving a direct percentage discount at the till, colleagues will now earn their percentage in Reward ££s on their basket spend - and even more on Co-op branded products or on payday weekends. These Reward ££s can be saved or spent on your next shop, giving you greater choice and transparency.

Can we use are points from our membership card at any Co-op supermarket

We’re re-launching Membership to make it more rewarding and interactive. Instead of Member prices, we’re introducing Reward ££s – instant cashback-style rewards on selected products. Points will still be earned when you spend in store, just like before. Reward ££s can be used in any Central Co-op store.

Will you be keeping staffed tills in all stores?

We aim to provide the highest levels of service to our Members and customers. We’ll monitor requirements for each store and adjust accordingly to maintain efficiency.

What effect will AI have on the business?

AI has many potential positive possibilities for all businesses, but its application will need to be carefully considered and thoroughly tested before we commit to integrating it across our business.

Will disability access be looked at with the view to more accessible venues for members’ meetings.

As a Society, we take Equality, Diversity and Inclusion seriously and want everyone to feel welcome. We have an inclusion network established to grow our awareness and guide our decision making with regard to accessibility. It’s a work in progress and we’d value any feedback provided.

Does the Society still pay the living wage to its front-line colleagues?

Over the years we’ve introduced colleagues to significant health and well-being support packages and benefits. We also increased the minimum hourly rate to £12 for front-line colleagues.

Are you going to introduce more gluten free option?

We recognise the need many people have for gluten-free products and have a ‘free from’ range in our stores to suit their requirements. We hope that in addition to the fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, rice, pulses and dairy we sell, we will satisfy those with a gluten intolerance.

We regularly review our product ranges to meet current popularity, needs, and demand. As a business, we also need to reduce food waste and keep an eye on costs. We’ll share your message with our commercial team for future consideration.

Does the Co-op have contingency plans in place in the event of a cyberattack?

Cyberattacks have become a higher priority in recent years. Our teams have maintained a robust approach to cyber security and work closely with our security partners to review and ensure that our systems remain protected. We also encourage colleagues across our Society to remain vigilant and follow all guidance issued.

How will colleagues be able to view their discount which has now been transferred to a reward pot?

Colleagues can track and spend their reward pot using our new Membership app, and they’ll also show on your till receipt, so you’re always in the know

What lessons have we learned in the past year about protecting our colleagues in stores from Retail Crime?

We continue to campaign alongside other retailers for the promised amends to the Crime and Policing Bill 2025 to ensure more retail crime is investigated and prosecuted and those committing violent offences against our colleagues receive custodial sentences. We also support the government’s intention to ensure better levels of neighbourhood policing which is vital to ensuring the success of the legal measures.