In a strategic move to strengthen its relationship with members, Co-op has initiated a series of pop-up cafés across major UK cities.
These events, set in urban centres such as Edinburgh, Cardiff, and London, serve a dual purpose: to enhance the understanding of cooperative business models among members and to highlight the tangible benefits of membership. By bringing the initiative directly to city centres, Co-op aims to create a more accessible platform for interaction and education about cooperative ownership.
This innovative approach follows the launch of Co-op’s ‘Owned by You. Right By You’ campaign, which seeks to illustrate the mutual advantages of participating in a cooperative structure. The campaign underscores the idea that membership not only offers individual benefits but also supports community development.
As stated by Dominic Kendal-Ward, group secretary and general counsel, ‘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.’ His comments highlight the unique participatory nature of the co-op model, emphasising how it allows for member voices to significantly influence business decisions.
Kendal-Ward explains that these pop-up cafés are designed to showcase how member-owners can influence business operations while enjoying cost savings on everyday products and services. This initiative hopes to demonstrate the potential for members to drive change on social issues within their communities.
In conjunction with these efforts, Co-op has recently expanded its opt-out savings scheme, assisting employees in building financial resilience by automatically reserving part of their earnings. This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to reinforce the financial stability and engagement of its workforce.
By engaging members through these innovative pop-up cafés, Co-op is reinforcing the benefits of cooperative ownership while fostering stronger community ties. This strategic move not only aims to educate but also to empower members, reinforcing the cooperative ethos at the heart of the organisation.
