As we all love a good supermarket/shopping thread, I thought I would start another.

Growing up I always liked the Co-op, a supermarket with a conscience. I remember they were selling fairtrade chocolate and coffee, and biodegradable plastics bags years before the rest of its competitors.

Does anyone else have similar fond memories?

Yes, one of my friends, friends, after being made redundant by the Co-op, when they were closing shops down, actually bought his local co-op.

The Co-op was right to close it.... he was bankrupt the next year.

Whoops.

My last job in the UK was as a consultant to the Co-op working on the systems for their loyalty programs. You could get points for a funeral...and almost anything else in fact!

I like the Co-Op. They were my client when I worked for Rentokil Initial in the UK and I was based at their headquarters in Lichfield.

After years of being marginalised by the biggest players, they are starting to make a strong comeback. More power to Co-Op, I say.

I have always like the Co-op's social agenda. They do seem to have developed a niche for themselves and do support smaller businesses rather than trying to hinder them.

I shopped at my local Scotmid( co-op up my way) It was nice and quiet as everyone was at Tesco helping starve some more third world farmers

I think the general public is now starting to think carefully about where their food comes from.

Co-Op's ethical policy was a huge drawcard for me. They were are pioneers in ethical retail, way ahead of their time.

The fridge?

I would hope they thought a little harder than that.

Indeed. It was selling organic locally grown food, before it was 'fashionable'.

Freezer?

Would these be the same third world farmers that the Australian seafood market is now screwing?

They seem to get screwed every which way

Probably. Which is why I avoid supermarkets here as much as I did in the UK.
Tesco etc are only worse because they are more powerful.