Co-op News March 2023
The March edition of Co-op News: connecting, challenging and championing the global co-operative movement. This issue includes a special news report on the response by co-ops to the earthquake disasters in Syria and Turkey. And we look at US Black History Month, International Women's Day and the UK Fairtrade Fortnight - including our shopping guide for a range of fabulous Fairtrade gifts. Plus reports from the Future Co-ops and UKSCS conferences, as the movement looks to define its role in dealing with the multiple crises facing the world. And there are features on waste picker co-ops in South America, the circular economy in Quebec and and the UN's Sustainable Development agenda.
The March edition of Co-op News: connecting, challenging and championing the global co-operative movement. This issue includes a special news report on the response by co-ops to the earthquake disasters in Syria and Turkey. And we look at US Black History Month, International Women's Day and the UK Fairtrade Fortnight - including our shopping guide for a range of fabulous Fairtrade gifts. Plus reports from the Future Co-ops and UKSCS conferences, as the movement looks to define its role in dealing with the multiple crises facing the world. And there are features on waste picker co-ops in South America, the circular economy in Quebec and and the UN's Sustainable Development agenda.
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On change, I saw a st<strong>op</strong> start pattern and since<br />
becoming CEO have pushed the continuous<br />
improvement philos<strong>op</strong>hy that change is never<br />
ending and we must, however unpleasant, keep<br />
changing and adapting to our members’ and<br />
customers’ needs.<br />
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? WHAT HAVE<br />
BEEN SCOTMID’S BIGGEST IMPACTS?<br />
That’s an easy question to answer. Without doubt<br />
I am very proud of my colleagues, whether elected<br />
members or our employees who turn up day in<br />
and day out to do a great job for the society. They<br />
adapt when required and put the society before<br />
themselves. They live and breathe our core purpose,<br />
‘To serve our communities and improve pe<strong>op</strong>le’s<br />
everyday lives’. On specifics, the acquisition of the<br />
Spar chain Botterill’s in 2012 where I shook hands<br />
with the seller in a McDonald’s in the West of<br />
Scotland on a £20m plus deal!<br />
That allowed us to expand into Southwest<br />
Scotland and when the <strong>op</strong>portunity to merge<br />
with Penrith Society arose it made the case much<br />
more logical. Also, Scotmid being in the Guinness<br />
book of records [for the largest Burns’ Night<br />
Supper, hosted in January 2020] as well as getting<br />
mentioned on Songs of Praise recently by a former<br />
Prime Minister are special. But the thing that makes<br />
me equally proud is when we do our membership<br />
and community report at our general meetings, and<br />
you can reflect on what a difference we make as<br />
an organisation.<br />
WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES?<br />
Not surprisingly there have been a few challenges<br />
including the rise of discounters, Sh<strong>op</strong>rite and<br />
Kwiksave, the financial crash, the 2014 issues<br />
in Manchester, the pandemic and now the costof-living<br />
crisis... Not to mention a few internal<br />
challenges to deal with as well.<br />
WHERE DO YOU SEE THE SOCIETY IN ANOTHER 30<br />
YEARS?<br />
An even bigger and better society but still true to its<br />
values and being guided by its core purpose.<br />
<strong>Co</strong>mpetition<br />
Win £50*<br />
JOSÉ MARÍA CÁRDENAS CAMACHO/EL OJO DEL CIMARRÓN<br />
More than ever,<br />
the New Internationalist<br />
is a crucial alternative to the<br />
hegemonic media landscape.<br />
Here’s to another 50 years<br />
of telling it like it is.<br />
IMAGE TAKEN FROM THE MONTH OF APRIL FROM NEW INTERNATIONALIST’S <strong>2023</strong> ONE WORLD CALENDAR<br />
50:50<br />
New Internationalist<br />
ethicalsh<strong>op</strong>.org<br />
* Gift vouchers must be used in the Ethical Sh<strong>op</strong> before 31.03.24. One entry per email address. Five draws of ten £50 vouchers. The ten winners from Go here to sign up:<br />
each draw will be emailed in April, June, August, October and November. The competition closes (for the final draw) on 31.10.23. The Ethical Sh<strong>op</strong> and<br />
New Internationalist reserves the right to cancel or change the competition at any time, if circumstances change that are beyond our reasonable control. https://ethicalsh<strong>op</strong>.org/email-signup-fifty<br />
ethicalsh<strong>op</strong><br />
To celebrate 50 years of the<br />
New Internationalist Magazine<br />
the Ethical Sh<strong>op</strong> is giving you the chance to win<br />
1 of fifty £50 gift vouchers. All you need to do<br />
is sign up to the Ethical Sh<strong>op</strong> enews and your<br />
name will be entered into the competition.<br />
MARCH <strong>2023</strong> | 23
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