Somerfield - Co-op Takeover

ioksane

I read something about this on the merchant news syndication
Im not sure the story on there was exactly the same. But it spoke of speculation!

It could potentially be horrific news!

red_devil

musical_norwich wrote: »

I think this takeover is terrible news. We have a Somerfield we use every day, and while it isn't as good or cheap as one of the big four supermarkets, it isn't bad and is local. Somerfield may have been run with a sale for the private equity owners in mind, but it does have a customer focus too.

We have some co-op stores nearby and they are very expensive, with a poor range and lazy, disinterested staff; most of the time they are virtually empty. Tesco opened a Tesco Express at a petrol station next door to one of the co-op stores which shows Tesco's confidence and contempt for co-op as a competitor. Of course, Tesco cleaned up and the co-op doesn't even have the commercial decency to close. With no owners to demand profitable trading the zombie store remains in its deathly state.

The paradox is the co-op, an organisation which has its customers as its owners, offers a poor range of shoddy goods at extremely expensive prices, and the staff hardly look to me as though they take pride in working for a company delivering a great service. Although it would make the founders of the co-operative movement turn in their grave, give me shareholder-owned supermarkets, be they public or private, every time.

Let's see whether the new expansive co-op becomes the next Equitable Life. It certainly offer similar value and I don't see how the senior management can be realistically held to account by its supposed owners. My guess is they'll spend, borrow and 'competitively remunerate' themselves until there is nothing left.

somerfield are expensive themselves they dont offer a loyalty card either. I shant mind if our local one changes. It changed not long ago from Kwiksave.

lexa34

S/F are expensive and do not have the more ethical pedigree of the co-op. I say good for them.

eamon

Can't say I've ever shopped in more than a dozen co-ops but they all appear to specialize in having surly staff. Very strange!

Eamon

C_Ronaldo

It would depend on which of the stores are more profitable, as well as if theres a certain number of stores in a certain area then some of the stores would close, i cant see anything happening yet re stores closing, if it were to close it could reopen as a store belonging to one of the big 4.

safesound

Does anyone here work for the Co-op in retail? I was wondering what the pay rate and holiday entitlement is. I've looked online but I cant find any info.

x.x.x.

safesound wrote: »

Does anyone here work for the Co-op in retail? I was wondering what the pay rate and holiday entitlement is. I've looked online but I cant find any info.

i cant remember the exact figures, but i know it is less than the SF wage (i work for SF, and was talking to a co-op staff member about pay a few months back). their supervisors were on less pay than what our CSA's are on...

jamesp31

I work for the co-operative group. Hope I can help with some of the points raised above, I may be wrong in some of this so dont qoute me!

Pay rate vs Somerfield - Im certain that we pay our CSAs more than Somerfield, we pay 5.61 per hour. Supervisors are on a minimum of 6.48 per hour.

What do we (co-op managers know)? Well we have been told very little, only what has already been mentioned in the press. Head office are keeping tight lipped over plans to bring the 2 businesses together. One thing is certain though, that the Somerfield name will soon dissapear.

I would certainly agree that once the 2 businesses have merged merged, we do need to work on our pricing to allow us to compete with the big 4.

And yes, there are inconsistencies with store standards and customer service, however there is an ongoing drive to improve this in all stores.

Personally, I think this is probably a great time to be working for the co-operative, as the takeover will open up many different avenues for co-op and exising somerfield staff alike.

ZootHornRollo

jamesp31 wrote: »

Personally, I think this is probably a great time to be working for the co-operative, as the takeover will open up many different avenues for co-op and exising somerfield staff alike.

unless you work in HO at Bristol!

sodamnfunky

My wife is a manager in Somerfield, and this one gets a premium location rate. One thing we do know for certain is this one is not going to be a co-op, which means a pay rise if her job is safe.