Co-op is taking a strategic step to strengthen member engagement and ownership through a series of pop-up cafés located in major cities such as Edinburgh, Cardiff, and London.
These events aim to assist members in gaining a deeper understanding of the business model they are part of, as well as the advantages of being a member-owner. The initiative is a part of Co-op’s broader campaign, ‘Owned by You. Right By You,’ launched earlier this year to highlight the benefits of cooperative membership to individuals and their communities.
Dominic Kendal-Ward, Co-op’s group secretary and general counsel, emphasised, “Co-op is a different way of doing business. We want to work with our members, who own our business, to make co-operation itself as successful, relevant and appealing as possible.” This vision underscores the belief that cooperative models can address many modern challenges by empowering communities and ensuring fair member representation.
Kendal-Ward also pointed out that these events would showcase how member-owners have a direct say in business operations, can save on essential products and services, and make impactful contributions on significant community issues. The move reflects Co-op’s commitment to making cooperative benefits more transparent and accessible to its members.
The pop-up café initiative coincides with Co-op’s recent expansion of its opt-out savings scheme. The scheme is designed to bolster financial resilience among employees by automatically allocating a portion of wages into savings, further illustrating Co-op’s innovative approach to supporting its workforce.
By launching these pop-up cafés, Co-op is not only promoting member ownership but also reinforcing the essence of cooperative values in modern business practices, offering a model where community and business align for mutual benefit.
