Co-operative Group National Members Council South West

A slightly different blog this month.   Why?   Partly because the January National Council meeting was fairly short, and partly because I want to share some information from the Co-op that you might have missed. Firstly, it was announced on the 7 th February that Richard Pennycook was stepping down as the CEO of the Co-op Group and was being replaced by the head of Co-op Food, Mr Steve Murrells. Richard came to the Co-op at our time of need. Not long after he started in May 13, I asked him what motivated him to work for ua?   He said, that the Co-op was a Great British institution and if he wanted to do his part in saving it.   And save it he did. Thank you Richard. Before Steve Murrells joined Co-op Food it was a tired business. Now after four years he has turned it on its head.   It is transformed beyond belief. His commitment to high quality, well stocked stores, providing our members with what they want, has seen Co-op food grow consistently. ...

Happy and a prosperous Co-op New Year to you all! Late November, a chill in the air, Members of the Co-op National Council meet up for our quarterly meeting, in our traditional home, the bowels of 1 Angel Square.   We had an unusual start. Many of the new members who were elected in May 2016, indicated that they were not sure who else were elected members in their locality.  So, to start the meeting, we undertook a challenge in our Regional groups, to build the largest tower from newspaper. I know from my own experience of joining existing groups (especially one of 100 members) that it is hard to remember all the names and faces, so this challenge was a good way of saying hello to fellow members.  Alas the South West tower slumped at the final moment. A metaphor for the strength of our common bonds, or our inability to source another roll of tape? The main business of the morning was a presentation from the CEO of Co-op Insurance.  Mark Summerfield took u...