Lincolnshire Co-operative

Lincolnshire Co-operative Limited

Type	Consumer Co-operative
Industry	Retail
Founded	1861
Headquarters	Stanley Bett House 15-23 Tentercroft Street Lincoln LN5 7DB
Key people	Amy Morley: President, Ursula Lidbetter: Chief Executive
Services	Food Stores, Pharmacy, Funeral Services, Florist, Travel Agent, Bakery, Coffee Shop, Post Office, Property Services
Operating income	£293 million
Members	250,000
Number of employees	2,800
Website	www.lincolnshire.coop

The Lincolnshire Co-operative is an independent consumer co-operative which operates in Lincolnshire and the surrounding counties, United Kingdom. The society has over 200 outlets with its principal trading activity being its 83 food stores, funeral homes, travel agencies, florists and pharmacies.^[1] The Society is owned by over 250,000 members who hold Lincolnshire Co-op dividend cards,^[2] equal to approximately one quarter of the population of Greater Lincolnshire.^[3] The society also owns the Gadsby's bakery which is based in Southwell, Nottinghamshire.

As a co-operative, it shares all its profits with members. Ways of doing this include paying dividend and a dividend bonus at the end of the year, investing in new and improved services and supporting community groups and charities. During the 2014-15 year a sum equivalent to 5% of pre-tax profits was distributed to community initiatives.^[4] Since Lincolnshire County Council closed a number of libraries across the county, the Linconshire Co-operative has operated five libraries within its food stores and pharmacies and offers library book deliveries in areas covered by its pharmacy delivery scheme.^[5]

In the last full year of trading, 2014/15, Lincolnshire Co-op recorded sales of £293m and profit of £19.2m of which more than 50% of trade was with members. This figure included a like-for-like food sales increase of 1.4% and an increase of 7.4% at its Gadsby's bakery. The society was able to pay its members a total of £3.4m in dividend and dividend bonus during the year.^[6]

About

Community Champions
In 2013, the Society set up the Community Champions scheme which sees every member linked to a good cause near to where they live.^[7] Every time they shop with the Society, a donation goes to that good cause. In its first year, the scheme had already given away £192,750 to local causes.

Investors in People
Lincolnshire Co-op was re-accredited as a Gold Standard employer in 2014 by Investors In People – a prestigious title shared by only 1 per cent of employers. This quality standard recognises commitment to developing staff by meeting rigorous requirements.^[8]

Staff Development
The Society runs an apprentice scheme with a number of apprentices working in areas including food retail and pharmacy.^[9]

To help staff develop, employees can undertake a Foundation Degree in Business Management. The two year qualification was designed specifically for Lincolnshire Co-op by the University of Lincoln and is delivered by trainers from the Society and academics from the University.

Environment
To reduce carbon emissions, Lincolnshire Co-op buys all its energy from small scale hydro-electric plants and wind farms as part of a group of co-operative businesses.^[10] As well as using green energy, the Society has taken a number of steps to cut the amount used across its sites including new outlets designed to maximise natural light and the introduction of automatic LED lights and heat reclamation systems.^[11] In 2013/14 solar panels were also being introduced to a number of the Society’s outlets.^[12]

Charity Of The Year
Each year the Society raises money for a local charity. 2012/13 saw £113,867.70 raised by customers and staff for When You Wish Upon A Star, which makes dreams come true for children who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses.^[13] Its chosen charity for 2013/14 is the Alzheimer's Society which helps to tackle and raise awareness of dementia.^[14]

History

Lincolnshire Co-operative was founded as 'Lincoln Co-operative Society' in 1861, inspired by Gainsborough joiner Thomas Parker.

Trading began at 1 Napoleon Place, Lincoln, in September 1861. By the end of the first quarter, there were 74 members and the dividend was 9d. Now there are around 230,000 members and £4.2m was paid to them in dividend and bonuses in 2012/13.^[15]

When the Society reached its 150th birthday in 2011, it celebrated with a year of special events including a ‘Big Birthday Bash’ playing host to Lulu and indie rock band Scouting For Girls. It renovated a 1970s ‘birthday bus’ and an exhibition was held at The Museum of Lincolnshire Life, showcasing the Society’s eventful history and a memory book, where members had shared comments about their Co-op from over the years. Over half a million pounds was also donated to local good causes through the ‘Big Birthday Awards’.^[16]

Trading

The Society operates food stores,^[17] some include butchery & deli counters. All of the stores sell a range of locally sourced produce called ‘Love Local’^[18] which is made up of items from the local area. Products include Lincolnshire Poacher cheese made in Alford, Pipers Crisps made in Brigg and Lincolnshire Farm Eggs which come from free-range hens, roaming in farmers’ fields across Lincolnshire.

The Love Local range also includes a huge selection of baked goods including bread, cakes and Lincolnshire treats like plum bread made by the Society’s own bakery called Gadsby’s^[19] based near Newark.

Lincolnshire Co-op is proud to include Lincolnshire Quality meat in its Love Local range, which is recognisable from the ‘born and reared in Lincolnshire’ logo on packaging and guaranteed to have come from local farms. You'll also find the famous Lincolnshire sausage in Lincolnshire Co-op stores, locally sourced and made.

The Society runs pharmacies^[20] that dispense and deliver prescriptions. All of the outlets have consultation rooms where people can have private advice from pharmacists and trained advisors. They offer a range of services including sexual health checks and blood pressure tests.

Several of its pharmacies are being refitted as ‘healthy living’ hubs to include better facilities and emphasis on providing clinical services and giving information and advice on health matters. The concept not only encourages healthy lifestyles and the prevention of health problems but also aims to reduce expensive waste and relieve some of the burden on GP practices.

Funeral services^[21] are another part of Lincolnshire Co-op’s family of businesses. It has provided the service for over 125 years. It offers a complete funeral arrangement service, funeral bonds, and links clients to a bereavement counselling service.

The Society has travel branches^[22] which provide a wide range of services from holiday bookings to insurance, car hire, currency, luggage and more. Many branches also offer specialist extras like cruise, wedding and ski experts.

Lincolnshire Co-op also runs post offices,^[23] filling stations,^[24] coffee shops,^[25] a memorial mason^[26] and a florist.^[27]

In November 2013, Lincolnshire Co-op opened South Lincolnshire Crematorium,^[28] a community facility available for ceremonies organised by all local funeral directors. It includes a memorial garden, a flower court and a chapel that seats 100 people.

Subsidiaries

The following trading companies are wholly owned subsidiary undertakings of the parent society:

• Lincoln Co-operative Chemists Ltd.^[29]
• LCS Retail Limited^[30]
• Lincoln Shop Equipment Ltd.^[31]
• LCS Property Limited^[32]
• Lincoln Corn Exchange and Markets (1991) Ltd.^[33]
• F Maltby & Sons Ltd^[34]
• Gadsby’s of Southwell Ltd.
• Greetwell Developments Ltd.
• Ellcee Limited

See also

• British co-operative movement
• Lincolnshire Co-operative Challenge
• Lincolnshire Credit Union

References

External links

• Lincolnshire Co-operative
• Lincolnshire Co-operative's historical archive