"Co-op Member Prices" now available across different co-op societies - in part

Stuart_W

Much news reporting about "the Co-op" generally refers to The Co-operative Group, who own the vast majority - but by no means not all - Co-op shops across the UK. There are plenty of other co-op societies running stores too, which are supplied by Co-op Group as their wholesaler but independently owned by a local member-controlled co-op society. Central, Midcounties, Scotmid, East of England, Lincolnshire, Heart of England and Chelmsford Star are examples.

The reciprocal dividend scheme launched by Co-op Group in 2005 technically still exists between a handful of societies, but Co-op group themselves haven't declared any dividend since 2013, Southern withdrew from it and plenty like Lincolnshire, East of England and Scotmid never joined.

Most societies have introduced "member prices" in some shape or form in the last couple of years and these have always needed you to be a member of that Co-op for them to work. This seems to be changing - in part. My local Co-op, which is owned by Central Co-op, now have "two levels" of member prices:


Some member prices require you to be a member of Central Co-op, others allow you to be a member of various others. 

I think this is a change in progress across societies - they all act independently so will need to move individually on any change. Co-op Group are still claiming you have to be a Co-op Group member to get member prices but I imagine this will change eventually too. Midcounties, Central, East of England and Lincolshire also still declare a dividend payment to members unlike Co-op Group.

Because the reciprocal dividend scheme from 2005 is technically still in place, if you use a Central or Midcounties card in a Co-op Group store it will be accepted but you won't get any member prices, unless that's changed too.

The confusion will continue, certainly for a little while yet. It still currently makes sense to be a member of any society that you regularly trade with.