The Co-operative Backs British Farming

The Co-operative Group is championing British farming with a major in-store push featuring British growers on its fresh produce packaging. Four Co-operative Group farmers: Lucy Mason, from Kent; Russell Armstrong, from Cambridgeshire; William Barnett, from Herefordshire; and Jack Parsons, from East Yorkshire, will be pictured on the packaging alongside other British growers who supply produce to almost 3,000 Co-operative food stores.

The new packaging, featuring a large Union Jack and photographs and comments from the British farmers who grow the fruit and vegetables for The Co-operative, will be rolled out over the next 12 months in line with the British season for each crop.

As the UK’s only supermarket to also run a major farming business, The Co-operative is backing British growers and emphasising the quality and freshness of its fruit and veg, and the care taken to get the best British products and seasonal food to its stores.

The Co-operative Farms, one of Britain’s largest farmers, which has farmed the land for more than 100 years, will play a key role in the rebrand of all its British primary produce packaging.

Christine Tacon, Managing Director of The Co-operative Farms, said: “The Co-operative has a long heritage in farming and we supply significant volumes of produce from our own farms to our food stores. Research told us that our customers trust British farmers to deliver great quality produce and they value our support of UK farming.

“This bold new packaging will highlight key British produce lines when they are available in store and demonstrate our continued commitment to British farming. It will also enable our customers to support these growers and also get the freshest and highest-quality products, when they are at their best – during the traditional British seasons.”

The launch will feature promotional lines of Cox’s apples, Conference pears, Maris Piper potatoes and onions, which are also grown on The Co-operative Farms’ estates in Tillington in Herefordshire, Highland Court in Kent, Coldham in Cambridgeshire and Goole in East Yorkshire.

A new QR (Quick Response) code will also appear on packs of pears, potatoes, apples and onions that will link to a website with more details on the product, the growers and recipes.

The new packaging will replace the “Grown By Us” range.

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Canny Customers Finding Ways To Save This Christmas

Saving stamps are seeing a revival at Co-operative food stores as savvy shoppers find new ways to spread the cost of Christmas.

This year, The Co-operative is expecting its canny customers to cash in £2.5m worth of saving stamps, more than 50% more than the £1.7million spent on saving stamps for the whole of 2010.

The Co-operative’s saving stamps scheme enables shoppers to buy £1 stamps over the year, and then cash them in for the Christmas shop.

Throughout December, The Co-operative will pay out £50 for every £48 saved, giving an extra £2 for free.

Saving a little each week helps make Christmas more affordable and takes the worry out of financing the festive period. Customers can purchase stamps each time they go into a food store and then have more money at Christmas to treat themselves and their families.

The saving stamps can be used at The Co-operative food stores to pay for the Christmas shop on items such as a turkey and all the trimmings, a bottle of bubbly or washing up liquid for the cleaning up afterwards*.

Sean Toal, Acting Chief Executive, The Co-operative Food, said: “We’re helping families to make their Christmas more affordable by spreading the cost over the year. Our savings stamp scheme provides great value for our customers and enables them to enjoy Christmas yet still keep a grip on the purse strings.”

To find out more about The Co-operative’s saving stamps, customers can contact The Co-operative Customer Careline on (freephone) 0800 0686 727.

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The Co-operative Magazine Poll Reveals 50/50 Split On Growing Veg

The Co-operative Magazine poll reveals 50/50 split on growing veg October 18 2011.

This month The Co-operative Magazine asked its readers: “Have you ever tried growing your own vegetables?” And the results are in. More than half (55.4 per cent) of respondents answered yes, 18.9 per cent answered no, and 25.7 per cent said no but they would like to.

The results of The Co-operative Magazine’s latest poll show that more than half of those asked have tried to grow their own vegetables and therefore are aiming at becoming increasingly self-sufficient. It also showed that while a significant percentage of people have never tried to grow their own vegetables, of these more than half would like to in the future.

With delicious autumn recipes, ideas for cooking seasonal food and bags of nutrition advice available online as part of the Magazine, readers can get lots of help with how to use any vegetables they do grow.

Jeanette Franks, editor of The Co-operative Magazine, said: “Our aim is to help people make small changes to the way they live day-to-day, and to help our readers live a more sustainable lifestyle.

“We’re not here to lecture, we’re here to offer fun features, facts and healthy recipes online to encourage everyone to do their bit without drastically changing their lifestyle in the process.”

The current issue of the online Magazine – Happy Autumn – features 10 top tips on how to stay happy and healthy throughout autumn, and an in-depth article on how different colours can affect your mood. Readers can also keep up with the latest fashions and find the best places to shop by visiting the shopping and culture section.

Read this month’s issue and sign up to the eNewsletter to be in with a chance of winning a pair of colourful Aigle wellies, a copy of Jules Standish’s book ‘How Not to Wear Black’, or a top of the range Samsung laptop.

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Top eateries Prezzo, Burger King and Pizza Hut available on a budget for October

Saving money when eating out remains as popular as ever with UK consumers – and voucher codes website DiscountVouchers.co.uk can help them do just that this autumn. Among the deals redeemable at over 800 stores and suppliers right now are deals for money off at Burger King, Italian diner Prezzo and Pizza Hut throughout October.

Dining out with all the family on flame-grilled burgers in autumn can be done on a budget thanks to the new offers sourced by DiscountVouchers.co.uk. By logging onto the website UK consumers can get hold of new Burger King vouchers which they can exchange at their local branch to get 2 for 1 on selected burgers and the Double Cheeseburger King Deal just £3.49.

Top quality Italian food can be enjoyed on a budget this autumn too through the new round of deals available on DiscountVouchers.co.uk. Popular Italian chain Prezzo has branches around the UK and can be enjoyed on a budget right now – the DiscountVouchers.co.uk site is carrying Prezzo vouchers for 2 courses and a drink for £11.95 or 3 courses and a drink for £13.95..

Great value pizza, pasta and salads can be had on a budget too this autumn through the DiscountVouchers.co.uk website – with deals available for use at Pizza Hut. Consumers can log on this week and get hold of a new choice of Pizza Hut vouchers which includes Happy Hour – eat for just £5 at Pizza Hut as well as Kids Eat free and free unlimited salad.

Doug Scott, managing director at DiscountVouchers.co.uk, comments, “Eating out whether as a couple or a whole family can be expensive as every consumer knows – so we’re pleased to be able to help. New vouchers available on our site can help UK consumers eat out on a budget at top places like Prezzo, Pizza Hut and Burger King right now.”

DiscountVouchers.co.uk offers consumers money saving deals at major high street brands and specialist retailers, including stores like Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Travelodge, First Choice, lastminute.com and Boden.

For more information visit www.discountvouchers.co.uk.

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