Wednesday 27 October 2010

The Changing Face of the Co-Op

I have become aware that the Co-Op brand again appears to be more visible around the streets of Dundee. The shop at the top of Caird Avenue has recently been re-branded as a Co-Op once again, years after it was last "The Sosh". The Co-Op used to be a major brand locally. In Dundee there were shops all over the place, especially local supermarkets with their dividend stamps and also a large store at the bottom of Peter Street in the City Centre that sold furniture and electrical goods.

My earliest memories of "The Sosh" were my gran buying a new washboard to do the laundry and of course the aforementioned "divi" stamps that were dished out with every purchase. It seemed to be at the heart of every community at a time when the corporate giants didn't even exist.

Having taken over Somerfield in 2008, they became the fifth biggest food retailer, but seem to be adopting a strategy that is different from the large, edge of town, superstores built by the big four. Smaller, locally based stores cater for those who want convenience without having to travel distances for their weekly shop. It is a strategy that might just work.

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