Rochdale Born United Co-op
Keeps On Growing
“Rochdale was chosen as the site of the new Society’s head office
because of its central position in the trading area…”
 United Co-operatives is the largest regional co-operative society in the
UK, with a turnover of £2.5 billion and 17,000 staff. United’s
headquarters are in Rochdale, where 80 people are employed and it also has
a major retail presence throughout Greater Manchester.
The present United was formed in 2002, through the merger of United Norwest
Co-operative Society with Yorkshire Co-operatives.
“Rochdale was chosen as the site of the new Society’s head office
because of its central position in the trading area and the town’s
historic status as the birthplace of the modern co-operative movement in
1844”, said United Chief Executive, Peter Marks.
The company has increased its profits each year and is highly acquisitive;
its largest acquisition to date was the P Williams pharmacy chain in 2006.
Within United there are major businesses, with Food the largest. Indeed,
the Society is the biggest convenience store retailer in the north of England.
United food stores can be found from Shropshire in the south, through North
Wales and across almost all of the north.
United also operates the most diverse travel business in the UK, including
the high street branches, call centres, a specialist cruise operation and
the largest network of homeworkers in Europe.
Sunwin Motor Group, owned by United, runs 23 car dealerships in Yorkshire,
Lancashire and the East Midlands, with franchises including, Renault, Peugeot,
Nissan, Mazda and Hyundai. Land Rover dealerships in Bradford and Guiseley
are branded Farnell.
United also operates one of the country’s major pharmacy chains, with
230 community pharmacies stretching from Northamptonshire to southern Scotland.
Within United Co-op Health Care too are the Sants and Wardles wholesalers.
United pharmacies, many in medical centres, offer an increasing range of
services, as more and more patients seek the advice of pharmacists for minor
ailments.
Funerals represent United’s fifth major business. As well as funeral
homes in the North Midlands and North, United operates in Northern Ireland.
The Co-operative Foundation, established in 2000 and solely funded by United,
is one of the most important ways in which the Society ensures that it is
part of the communities it serves. Many thousands of pounds in grants have
been given to good causes throughout the trading area. |
