Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society

The Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society is an independent consumer co-operative in the United Kingdom.

Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society Limited
TypeConsumer Co-operative
IndustryRetail (Wholesale)
Founded1867
Headquarters220 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 OLS
Key people
Barry Wood, Chief Executive Officer
ProductsGrocer, Department Store, Funeral Director, Travel Agent
Revenue£113.5 million (52 weeks ending January 26 2019)
Number of employees
884
Websitewww.chelmsfordstar.coop

Registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014,[1] the Society is a member of Co-operatives UK (formerly the Co-operative Union), the Co-operative Group (formerly Co-operative Wholesale Society) and its national buying scheme, the Co-operative Retail Trading Group. In 1995, it had a membership of 38,867 and annual sales of £34.2 million.

In 2018-19 (the 52 weeks ending January 26 2019), its membership had reached 87,368 and its revenue (gross takings) was £113.5 million (up 2.8% year on year) - of which sales accounted for £92.4mn.[2] Net profit, or surplus before distributions, in 2018-19 was £787,337[3] (down by 14% year on year) as UK high-street retailers faced a tough time. The Society had an average of 884 employees (263 full-time and 621 part-time) in 2018-19,[4] slightly fewer than in 2017-18. Net debt stood at £4.4m (£5.7m 2017/18) and the Society's pension deficit was £1.9m (£2.4m 2017/18).

History
See also: History of the cooperative movement

The Society was established in Chelmsford by iron foundry workers in 1867, with the intention of becoming "the Star of the County". In 1969, it merged with the Braintree Co-operative Society, which had been formed by silk weavers in 1864.

In its first year of trading, Chelmsford Star Industrial Co-operative Society had a membership of 275 and annual sales of £4,316. By 1900, with 1,439 registered co-operatives in the UK, membership had risen to 2,001, with annual sales of £40,414. In 1954, with membership standing at 19,089, the Society achieved sales of over £1 million for the first time.[5]

Activities

According to the International Co-operative Alliance, "A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise."[6] In conducting its affairs, Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society is committed to "following the Co-operative Values and Principles."[7] The Society's rules are based on Model Rules 12, drawn up by Co-operatives UK.[8]

As of May 2019, the Society operates 40 convenience stores under The Co-operative Food fascia, 2 Quadrant department stores (each of which with The Co-operative Travel branches) in Chelmsford and Braintree, and eight Chelmsford Star Co-operative Funeral Services.[9] The 40 convenience stores - which exclude two loss-making ones that were closed during 2018-19 at Meppel Avenue, Canvey Island and at Southchurch Road, Southend-on-Sea - cover not only the core Chelmsford/Braintree area but also extend as far out as Woodford Green, Ilford and Romford in East London to the southwest and from Grays through East Tilbury to Shoeburyness along the Thames Estuary to the south and southeast.[10]

Food retailing provides the lion's share of the Society's operating profits, while its two Quadrant department stores made a 2018-19 operating loss. Membership of the society is open to all residents of the Society's mid-Essex trading area, with members receiving a share of the profits in the form of dividend.

The Co-op convenience store on New Street in central Chelmsford belongs to the national Co-operative Group, and not to the Chelmsford Star Society.

See also

References
  1. Registered in England and Wales, No. 973R
  2. p4 of its annual report and financial statements for the 52 weeks ended 26 January 2019 https://www.chelmsfordstar.coop/sites/default/files/fields/society-report/documents/report_accounts_19_aw_web.pdf
  3. p20 of https://www.chelmsfordstar.coop/sites/default/files/fields/society-report/documents/report_accounts_19_aw_web.pdf
  4. p26 of https://www.chelmsfordstar.coop/sites/default/files/fields/society-report/documents/report_accounts_19_aw_web.pdf
  5. History of Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Chelmsford Trades Union Council (retrieved 1 November 2014)
  6. Statement on the Co-operative Identity (Definition) International Co-operative Alliance, Manchester, 1995
  7. Rulebook Archived November 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine 3.1(a) Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society, April 2014
  8. Welcome to Chelmsford Star Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society (retrieved 31 October 2014)
  9. Directors' report on p7 of https://www.chelmsfordstar.coop/sites/default/files/fields/society-report/documents/report_accounts_19_aw_web.pdf
  10. https://www.chelmsfordstar.coop/find-store
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