150 years young…

Cooperatives were first formed as a different way of doing business that was better for everyone, driven by values and principles which still guide co-ops to this day. As a co-operative they are run differently from other big organisations, since they put their members first. The East of England Cooperative is owned by over 280,000 members who each have an equal say in how the business is run, with an annual AGM. And just as they did 150 years ago, they each receive a dividend - or 'divi' as it's become affectionately known - based upon how much they spend with the business.

The co-op’s focus has always been, and always will be, the local communities in our region. With roots tracing back to 1861, the East of England co-op is an amalgamation of the Ipswich and Norwich Co-operative and the Colchester and East Essex Co-operative societies merging in 2005.

The co-op is undergoing a business transformation and expects to return to trading profit in this financial year. Andy Rigby has recently become Acting CEO and will lead the business transformation along with his Chief Officers and colleagues across the business. Andy joined the organisation as COO in 2022 and brings over 40 years of leadership and transformation experience within the retail sector.

The Board of Directors is made up of 16 elected individuals who are responsible for determining the objectives, strategy and policy of the co-op in conjunction with the CEO and SLT. Together they collaboratively run the largest independent retailer in the region.