The Executive Management Team are the highest level of management in the business and are responsible for its day-to-day operations. Though Operation Facelift led to some improvements, the movement (including the CWS) remained largely unreformed with its grocery market share continuing a downward trend. [6] Again, it was suggested that societies merge to form regional societies to improve their competitiveness through enhanced economies of scale. Many local co-op societies strongly resisted such mergers but, as their financial situation declined, many were forced to merge to create regional societies or were absorbed into either the CRS or the SCWS to avoid failing. Consolidation within the movement was considerable, and in 1973 serious financial mismanagement of the SCWS Bank led to the SCWS and the CWS merging to form a single UK-wide wholesale society. The Co-operative Group Limited, trading as Co-op and formerly known as the Co-operative Wholesale Society, is a British consumer co-operative with a group of retail businesses including grocery retail and wholesale, legal services, funerals and insurance retailing. [2] The merger did highlight the potential of The Co-operative Bank as it was building a sizeable base of customers (notably local authorities, mutuals and local groups alongside co-operative societies) and this became an increasingly significant proportion of the CWS's annual profits. The growth in the bank largely related to its aggressive expansion into the personal banking market and with the pioneering of free banking (1972) in the UK, nine years before any of its larger rivals. [5] The Co-op superstore Lisburn Road, Belfast, shown here in 1996.

CO-OPERATION - 'working together for the good of all' - proved to be a successful business strategy for the Co-operative Wholesale Society. There are only 12 parks with significant post-war element on the English Heritage 'Register of Parks'. With these Harlow is seen as one of the first examples of a civic scheme to marry the modern science of town and country planning. [ citation needed] Economy [ edit ] Kingsmoor House on Paringdon Road is a Grade II* listed building and dates from the 18th century. It was built as a gentleman's residence and owned by local families including the Risden, Houblon and Todhunter families. It was later used as a private school and council offices before falling derelict. [7] It has since been restored and converted into residential apartments. Harlow, First Avenue, Multi-Modal Corridor, Phase 2" (PDF). November 2008 . Retrieved 14 October 2009. [ permanent dead link] As a co-operative, the group places importance on ethical and transparent trading and reporting, and democratic accountability and participation. Individual stores may have member forums. Unlike a pure consumer co-operative, voting rights are shared between the corporate members and the individual consumer members, as described in an annual report:Unfortunately, there isn’t an official list of the blue plaques in Cardiff. But, I have put this together by piecing information together and the blue plaques I pass regularly. This article will be updated periodically, as I take pictures of them on my travels. It is my understanding that some plaques have been stolen or missing and have not been replaced. Some are on private residences, so please be respectful if you go to find them. Blue Plaques in Cardiff Bay Penniless Point, Roald Dahl Plass The CWS responded with operation facelift in 1968 which introduced the first national co-operative branding, the 'Co-op' cloverleaf.

The Co-operative Group is unusual as a co-op because it is owned by millions of UK consumers and also a number of other UK co-operatives, making the business a hybrid of a primary consumers' co-operative and a co-operative federation. This is largely a function of the group resulting from the merger between the Co-operative Wholesale Society (a co-operative federation) and the Co-operative Retail Services in 2000. Since 2015 The Co-operative Group has operated a 'one member one vote' system whereby any of the Co-op's millions of members can vote to elect board members, to guide strategic decisions and propose their own motions for voting on. Details of those people who are members of the Group Board and the Group Executive are provided here. Details are correct as of 2016. Group membership increased sharply in the first year after the relaunch, to 2.5million with many more young people who have an affinity with the co-operative values and principles attracted to join. [125] [126] [127]The legendary Welsh composer Ivor Novello was born on Cowbridge Road East on 15 January 1893. Famous as both a composer and Welsh actor, he is remembered for the song he wrote during World War One, called Keep the Home Fires Burning. He also has a blue plaque in London and in Maidenhead. The inscription says, “This boy became a Ruritanian King, who gave his people dreams and songs to sing.” Howard Spring, Cowbridge Road East Since 2005, 98% of The Co-op's electricity has been sourced through renewable sources, notably wind power, hydro and anaerobic digestion. By 2014, 12.3% of the business's total energy use was being sourced from renewable sources. The business has also constructed its own renewable energy generation facilities, operating three wind farms with a fourth given planning permission in 2014. When the fourth wind farm is complete, it is expected that The Co-operative Group will generate almost 25% of its own electricity consumption. In 2016 the co-op sold ownership of a wind farm, providing a financial return for the co-op. When combined with improvements in its supply chain, notably a reduction in fuel used in its vehicle fleet, and the fitting of doors to its store refrigerators (a measure which reduces their energy consumption by 40%) [140] this led to a 40% reduction in its carbon emissions between 2006 and 2015. [141] The Co-op also buys renewable energy from community energy projects including Torrs Hydro and Settle Hydro. [142] [143] For domestic and private consumers, The Co-operative Group sells energy-saving light bulbs in stores, while Midcounties Co-operative's Co-op Energy division provides a Co-operative Energy Saving Service, including online sales of LED light bulbs (which are around 80% more efficient than fluorescent Low Energy Bulbs, which themselves are 80% more efficient than the old standard incandescent light bulbs). So, did you know you can get 2 for 1 on meals or 50% off food with a Tastecard? For instance, after all of the exploring and finding the blue plaques in Cardiff, you’ll need to refuel. There are independent and chain restaurants to choose from and a variety of cuisines. Get a 2-month free trial here: