October 2022 digital edition

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ISSN 0009-9821 9 770009 982010 01 THIS ISSUE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Co-ops pay tribute to the Queen (p6-7); European co-ops respond to Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech (p14); the co-op connections of architect Antoni Gaudi (p46-48); community pub the Bevy continues its efforts through the cost-of-living crisis (p38-39); Lambeth GP Food Co-op garden (p22-23) OCTOBER 2022 FROM WATER TO ENERGY: CO-OPS RESPOND TO A CRISIS Plus … Co-ops pay tribute to the Queen ... a report from the international Co-op Housing Symposium ... More changes at the top for the Co-op Group www.thenews.coop £4.20 COVER: Co-operation Jackson The US worker co-op network takes action on the water crisis in its home city Read more: p28-29 22-23 MEET ...EDWARD ROSEN Project director, Lambeth GP Food Co-op 25 WAYS FORWARD CONFERENCE Preview of this month’s event 26-27 CO-OP HOUSING SYMPOSIUM Report from the conference of the world’s housing co-ops in Zurich 28-29 JACKSON’S FIGHT FOR WATER Co-operation Jackson takes a stand against infrastructure neglect in the US city 30-43 ENERGY CRISIS With soaring fuel prices threatening economies and living standards around the world, how are co-ops responding? 30-31 ENERGY CO-OPS Reaction from some key players in the sector as energy bills soar 32-33 SAVE HEAT, SAVE THE WORLD Co-ops take the lead in retrofitting the UK’s draughty housing stock 34-37 CREDIT UNION FRONTLINE Anca Voinea takes a look at the sector’s response to the crisis, followed by analysis from Paul Gosling 38-39 LOCAL SERVES UP SUPPORT Brighton community pub The Bevy is stepping up its local support work 40-41 HARD TIMES FOR GROCERIES Worker co-ops in the independent food retail sector face a perfect storm of rising costs and falling trade 42-43 BENEFITS OF CO-OPERATION A look at what co-ops are doing to help workers and members through the crisis 44-45 CO-OP GROUP REACHES OUT A preview of the Join In Live events – in London, Glasgow and online – where the retailer will discuss the way forward with its members 46-48 GAUDI’S CO-OP VISION The architect, famed for his church buildings, also designed a community building for co-op workers in Catalonia REGULARS 5-13 UK news 14-21 Global news 24 Letters 50 Events 4 | OCTOBER 2022
NEWS RETAIL Management shake-up at Co-op Group as food chief Whitfield quits The Co-op Group has announced a new leadership structure for its convenience and wholesale operations. The announcement comes as Food CEO Jo Whitfield revealed her decision to leave the business, after five years in the role and six years overall at the Group. Whitfield announced a four-month career break in February to help her sons with their GCSEs and A Levels. Matt Hood, former commercial director at the Group, will become managing director of Co-op Food, responsible for both the commercial and operational areas of the business. Michael Fletcher who has led the Group-owned wholesale arm Nisa, is also stepping down from his role and Peter Batt, a former managing director of Coop’s regional stores in the south, has been appointed managing director of Nisa. Group chair Allan Leighton said: “Jo has decided that this is the right time to move on and pursue her next challenge. “During her time with us, Jo has led a re-invention of our Food business. She always put colleagues first and championed colleague safety. She leaves the Co-op with our warmest wishes and deepest thanks for everything she has delivered for our colleagues, members and customers.” CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq said: “I wish to express my thanks to Jo for all that she has achieved and wish her all the best in the next chapter of her career. “I am delighted to announce that Matt is our new managing director of Co-op Food with both the commercial and operational areas reporting into him and he will ensure we remain leaders in convenience. p Jo Whitfie d is leaving the Group after ix years We have an incredibly strong team, an established position to build from and the hunger and opportunity to achieve so much more in the years ahead.” She added: “Michael Fletcher is also leaving his role as Nisa CEO in early October and will then pursue a new career path, supporting multiple businesses. He leaves behind a huge legacy. “Peter Batt will take over from Michael with immediate effect to allow a managed handover with Michael. Peter has extensive experience in retail and trading, having been our divisional managing director in the south, and brings with him both commercial and operational experience from his roles outside Co-op. “I have the utmost confidence that Peter will hit the ground running to support our Nisa partners.” Forecourts sold In other news from the Group, it was announced at the end of August that it is selling its petrol forecourt estate to Asda for £600m. The transaction, due to complete by the end of the year, will involve 129 petrol forecourt sites throughout the UK, which represents 5% of the organisation’s estate of 2,564 stores. “This transaction is in line with our strategy to move away from operating petrol forecourts and supports our vision of ‘Co-operating for a fairer world’ while building our core leading convenience business,” said Khoury-Haq. “I would like to thank our incredible colleagues in these stores, and we will work closely with Asda to ensure a smooth transition.” Asda will pay £438m in cash and take on responsibility for the Group’s lease payments which total about £162m. Around 2,300 Co-op petrol station staff will be moved to Asda’s employment. Asda said the purchase is part of plans to move into the convenience market, feeding in to its “long-term ambition to become the UK’s second-largest supermarket”. The Group said the sale of non-core petrol forecourt businesses will enable it to “focus on core convenience proposition whilst significantly deleveraging and strengthening the Group’s balance sheet”. It added that proceeds from the sale will be reinvested in the core convenience business and its growing wholesale, franchise and e-commerce operations, including new stores in the heart of more communities. It will also be invested in the organisation’s pricing, store operations, technology, and logistics, and support the reduction of the Group’s net debt. OCTOBER 2022 | 5
Page 1 and 2: OCTOBER 2022 FROM WATER TO ENERGY:
Page 3: Co-ops and their communities brace
Page 7 and 8: unifying force across the UK. She w
Page 9 and 10: He called on the government to tack
Page 11 and 12: COMMUNITY Residents add a church an
Page 13 and 14: COST OF LIVING CRISIS Conference to
Page 15 and 16: EUROPE EU Care Strategy package rec
Page 17 and 18: USA Co-op leaders given new places
Page 19 and 20: NEW ZEALAND Fonterra rethinks sale
Page 21 and 22: KENYA Co-op Bank of Kenya reports 4
Page 23 and 24: WHO ARE YOUR MEMBERS? Our members a
Page 25 and 26: PREVIEW Ways Forward 2022 - Co-oper
Page 27 and 28: Julie La Palme, secretary general o
Page 29 and 30: t Jackson was flooded in August whe
Page 31 and 32: at the regulatory system, and a rev
Page 33 and 34: gas permanently and ensure the gove
Page 35 and 36: “If you or someone you know is st
Page 37 and 38: CREDIT UNIONS WILL CONTINUE TO DO W
Page 39 and 40: Carter explains that this kind of c
Page 41 and 42: group also offered a special discou
Page 43 and 44: sustainable and organic products. I
Page 45 and 46: through the cost of living crisis,
Page 47 and 48: (completed in 1883) were built and
Page 49 and 50: www.cch.coop cooperative.housing #c
Page 51 and 52: LEARNING AND NETWORKING FOR CO-OP P

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