REVIEW OF 2018

2018 Time-line
JAN
A report by the IPPR
Commission on Economic
Justice suggests expanding
employee ownership trusts
to create three million
employee owners by 2030.
The Co-op Group
announces plans for 100
new stores with a £160m
investment, alongside
a £50m put into price
cuts for everyday food
items, which the retailer
said could save shoppers
£120 a year, and a trial
delivery service in Greater
Manchester with Deliveroo.
Bruno Roelants is
appointed director
general of the International
Co-operative Alliance,
following the retirement
of his predecessor
Charles Gould.
FEB
discussions of tech co-ops
and public service mutuals,
and a keynote speech from
shadow business secretary
Rebecca Long-Bailey.
Rabobank National
Association pays
US$360m to settle a
money laundering case.
A subsidiary of the Dutch
financial co-operative,
it pleaded guilty after
an investigation into its
operations in California.
MAR
Student Co-op Homes,
a national body to address
problems in the housing
sector, is launched. It
aims to increase national
capacity from 150 to 10,000
beds in the next five years.
continue, Labour and Co-op
councils sign a charter
committing them to rooting
out exploitation in their
supply chains, at a round
table event with Labour
leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Japan’s co-ops reorganise
into a new federal body,
the Japan Co-operative
Alliance (JCA).
The Association of
British Credit Unions
(Abcul) AGM. Hot topics
include digital marketing
innovation and calls
by Nick Crofts from the
Co-op Group and Greater
Manchester mayor Andy
Burnham for credit unions
to work with co-ops and
local authorities to tackle
economic inequality.
AGM, chief executive Steve
Murrells announces the
“Stronger Co-op, Stronger
Communities” campaign,
which will see the retailer
invest in local community
projects.
The year also sees positive
results for independent
retail co-ops, with Central
England, Scotmid, Heart
of England, Southern, East
of England, Chelmsford Star
and Midcounties among
those reporting surpluses
despite the challenging
retail environment.
The Phone Co-op agrees
a transfer of engagements
to Midcounties Co-op at its
special meeting in Sheffield.
Operations will continue
from its existing office but
the deal brings an end to
the Phone Co-op as
a distinct entity with
a distinct board.
The Phone Co-op holds
its AGM, and finds its
growth strategy – which
involves major investments
– subject to fierce debate.
A special meeting is
scheduled for April.
The Ways Forward 6
Conference is held in
Manchester, with debate on
how the co-op model can be
used to transform the UK
economy. Sessions include
The government
announces a £10m fund
for new forms of farmer
co-operation, as well as
the development of existing
farm co-operatives.
Efforts by the movement to
eradicate modern slavery
APR
The Co-op Group returns
to the black in its annual
results, with a pre-tax
profit of £72m, up from
a £132m loss the year
before. At the Group’s
Phil Ponsonby is named
new group CEO of
Midcounties after the
retirement of Ben Reid
6 Review 2018