UK member-owned consumer co-operative spanning food retail, funeralcare, insurance and legal services.
co-operative.coopLegal name
Co-operative Group LimitedFounded
1863
Headquarters
One Angel Square, Manchester, England
Employees
About 56,465 (2023)
Industry
Consumer co-operative: food retail, funeralcare, insurance, legal services
Revenue (FY25)
About £11.0 billion (down 2.3% year on year)Listed on
Private (member-owned co-operative, not listed)
CEO
Kate Allum (Interim Group Chief Executive)
Chair
Debbie White
CFO
Rachel Izzard
The Co-operative Group, trading as Co-op, is a member-owned consumer co-operative headquartered at One Angel Square in Manchester, England. Its legal name is Co-operative Group Limited and it traces its origins to 1863. The group runs food retail alongside funeralcare, insurance and legal services, and is owned by its members rather than by shareholders, so it isn't listed on any stock exchange.
For its 2025 full year the group reported revenue of about £11.0 billion, down 2.3% on the prior year, and swung to a loss of £35 million from a £131 million profit a year earlier. Results were hit by a major cyberattack, costed at around £107 million, plus additional cost headwinds. The business employed roughly 56,465 people as of 2023 and operates about 2,300 food stores across the United Kingdom.
Leadership changed in 2026. Long-serving Group CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq stepped down on 29 March 2026, and Kate Allum, a member-nominated director, became Interim Group Chief Executive from 30 March 2026 while a permanent successor is sought. Debbie White chairs the group, having started as chair in February 2024, and Rachel Izzard has served as Chief Financial Officer since June 2023.
Interim Group Chief Executive (from 30 March 2026)
Group Chair
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Growth Officer
Interview experience
5 out of 10
Interview difficulty
Easy
Interview process length
Often a day or two
Practice real Co-op questions and get instant feedback before you walk in.
Q: Can you describe a time you worked with a team and showed initiative in a group situation?
A: Pick one real example and walk through it in order: the shared goal, the step you took without being asked, and how the team benefited. Keep the focus on collaboration rather than taking sole credit.
Q: What do you know about Co-op?
A: Show you did basic homework: Co-op is a member-owned consumer co-operative from Manchester that runs food stores, funeralcare, insurance and legal services, and reinvests in members and communities. Tie that ethos to why you want to work there.
Q: Why do you want this position?
A: Link your answer to the specific role and store, not just any job. Mention enjoying customer contact, the team environment, and how the hours or location fit your plans, so it sounds genuine.
Q: Do you have customer service experience?
A: If you have retail or service history, give a short example of helping a customer well. If you don't, point to transferable moments from school, volunteering or other jobs where you helped people and stayed patient.
Practice real Co-op questions and get instant feedback before you walk in.
Reported average
£13.49/hour
244 Salaries submitted
Reported average
£13.05/hour
191 Salaries submitted
Reported average
£13.18/hour
7 Salaries submitted
Reported average
£35,751/year
58 Salaries submitted
Reported average
£79,377/year
10 Salaries submitted
Reported average
£41,275/year
56 Salaries submitted
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June 20, 2026
Co-op prices £350m sustainability bond
Co-op priced a £350 million offering of 8.25% sustainability senior notes due 2031 to refinance existing notes maturing in July 2026, linking proceeds to Fairtrade supplier spending and on-site renewable energy.
#finance #sustainability #bonds
View postJune 2026
Co-op strategy director Tom Bradley to join Deliveroo
Co-op's commercial and logistics strategy director Tom Bradley announced he is leaving to join Deliveroo as commercial director in autumn 2026, a move reported amid Co-op's expanding online delivery partnerships.
#leadership #logistics #delivery
View postMay 15, 2026
Co-op enters advertising as a standalone media owner
Co-op launched a new national advertising proposition, a digital out-of-home network built on more than 1,000 front-of-store screens, marking its formal entry as a standalone media owner in the UK outdoor advertising market.
#retailmedia #advertising #DOOH
View postApril 8, 2026
Co-op Group and Southern Co-op propose merger
The boards of Co-op Group and Southern Co-op announced proposals to join forces, which would bring Southern's 300,000 members and 300-plus food, funeral and Starbucks branches into an enlarged Co-op Group of 7 million members. The transfer of engagements is expected in Q3 2026, subject to member and regulatory approval.
#merger #retail #cooperative
View postFebruary 2, 2026
Co-op confirms 18 store openings for Q1 2026
Co-op confirmed it will open 18 stores across the UK in the first quarter of 2026, including new sites and reopenings, with the first new store at Willowbrook Park, Didcot. Around 86% of the UK population can now access Co-op groceries online.
#expansion #stores #jobs
View postCo-op is the trading name of Co-operative Group Limited, a member-owned consumer co-operative based in Manchester. It runs food retail alongside funeralcare, insurance and legal services.
