Tag Archives: the co-operative group

Fish, Food, Food & Beverage, Seafood

The Co-operative Nets Top Marine Accolade

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The Co-operative Group has been ranked top in the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) Supermarket Survey 2011, scoring 84% and earning a gold award for sustainable seafood.

As one of the most sustainable seafood retailers in the UK, The Co-operative was praised for its product labelling, Responsible Fish Sourcing Policy and sustainability initiatives.

The retailer doesn’t sell any of the products identified by MCS’s “Fish to Avoid” list and all its own-brand tuna is now caught using the pole and line method. Pole and line fishing is a more selective fishing method which results in less by-catch*, which reduces the impact of fishing on the biodiversity of a region.

According to The Co-operative Ethical Consumerism Report, which is published this week (Thursday 15 December), last year, UK sales of fish from sustainable sources grew 16.3 per cent, from £178m to £207m, twice the rate for total fish sales which increased 8.2 per cent.

The Co-operative Food’s Responsible Fish Sourcing Policy governs the sourcing of all its own-brand wild and farmed seafood including all food products, which contain fish, from ready meals to sandwiches. Each own-brand product is assessed to confirm the source is a responsible fishery, examining the individual species based on fishery location and method of catch; species’ resilience to fishing; by-catch estimates and whether species are endangered.

In 1998, The Co-operative was one of the first organisations to register support for the Marine Stewardship Council and has continued to work closely with them to promote responsible, environmentally friendly fishing practices.

Since then, The Co-operative has provided £200,000 to support UK fisheries to pursue Marine Stewardship Council certification. To date, 12 UK fisheries have benefited from this fund, including the entire Sussex inshore fishery comprising of 26 fisheries.

In 2009, the retailer supported the MCS’s Marine Reserves Now! campaign to lobby to adopt a policy manifesto commitment for 30% of UK waters to be Highly Protected Marine Reserves by 2020.

More recently, The Co-operative joined the battle to save the European eel with an innovative river navigation scheme designed to reverse the dramatic decline in eel numbers. Together with its partner The Rivers Trust, The Co-operative is building specially-designed passes, enabling eels to navigate physical barriers such as dams, weirs and flood defences which prevent them from reaching the slow-moving, upstream waters they require to grow to maturity.

In light of its work with UK fisheries, The Co-operative was also highly commended by MCS for the Best Sustainability Initiative.

Sean Toal, Acting Chief Executive at The Co-operative Food, said: “To top the Marine Conservation Society Supermarket Survey demonstrates our commitment to responsible sourcing and sustainable seafood. Our Responsible Fish Sourcing Policy, engagement in seafood sustainability initiatives and the work we have done to eliminate ‘Fish to avoid’ identified by MCS scored particularly highly.”

For more information about The Co-operative’s Responsible Fish Sourcing Policy visithttp://www.co-operative.coop/join-the-revolution/our-plan/Environment/Nature-conservation/.

Via EPR Network
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Farm, Food, Food & Beverage, Fruits & Veggies

The Co-operative Backs British Farming

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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.

Via EPR Network
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Food, Food & Beverage

Canny Customers Finding Ways To Save This Christmas

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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.

Via EPR Network
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Bread, Cooking, Events, Fish, Food, Food & Beverage, Health Food, Sandwiches

Most Sustainable Product Award for Co-operative Fishcakes

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The Co-operative has scooped the “Best Sustainable Product” award at the SuperMeat & Fish awards for the second year running.

The SuperMeat & Fish awards aim to reward excellence in supermarket retailing of meat and fish – at both store level and in manufacturing.

This year, the accolade was awarded to The Co-operative for its premium Truly Irresistible Cod & Minted Pea Fishcakes. Firmly aimed at the indulgence sector, the fishcakes are a rich blend of naturally smoked cod, white cod, British mashed potato and Jersey cream, surrounding a minted mushy pea sauce centre and coated in a crispy and crunchy breadcrumb.

In keeping with The Co-operative’s highly developed sustainability credentials, the cod is line-caught from a responsibly fished source and is naturally smoked in Scotland to ensure the finest quality.

The Co-operative’s Responsible Fish Sourcing Policy, launched in 2008, is a unique method of assessing the sourcing of fish, and was developed by The Co-operative along with its partner suppliers and leading NGO’s, taking into account both environmental and ecological issues. It applies to all Co-operative own-brand fish, including canned and frozen, products containing fish and even sandwiches.

Readers of The Co-operative Magazine can also make their own delicious gourmet tuna fishcakes at home, following one of the many simple, quick and healthy recipespublished in the Food and Drink section online.

The Co-operative has long been associated with the Fairtrade movement, with responsible retailing, ethical living and much more, and as well as this award, the implementation of its Elmwood standard across its range of own-brand fresh pork and sausages earned it the accolade of Most Improved Supermarket, as voted for at the Welfare Awards 2011.

The Co-operative also won a Good Dairy Award in recognition of its good work supporting British workers to date, and of its pledge to join a milk producer scheme in August.

Via EPR Network
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Bread, Cooking, Events, Food, Food & Beverage, Sandwiches

Poll from The Co-operative says 94% of people think family meals are important

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Results from the latest poll carried out by The Co-operative Magazine have revealed that nearly all of respondents – 94 per cent– believe that sitting down together as a family at meal times is important.

The question – Do you think it’s important for the family to sit down and eat meals together? – was asked online and received an almost unanimous ‘yes’: a rare and resounding majority from the loyal readership.

Research has found that those children who sit down to eat with their families at meal times are much less likely to be overweight or to experience weight likely to follow a healthy and balanced diet full of fruit and vegetables.

The Co-operative Magazine serves a large online readership with daily news and features on the latest health and nutrition topics, family issues, travel and leisure, and much more. It also provides hints and tips on choosing healthy meal ideas, how to cook Italian food, and ways to keep kids healthy and happy.

New poll questions are regularly available to answer online in all sections of the online magazine, from travel and leisure, health and wellbeing, and food and drink, to family and finance, ethical living, and house and home. Readers are encouraged to read the news and features, listen to the podcasts, and leave their comments and helpful hints for fellow readers to benefit from – the magazine aims to be informative, interesting, visually attractive and interactive.

The Co-operative online magazine allows readers to interact with each other and The Co-operative Group, find useful information and travel guides quickly and easily, find out about the latest Fairtrade policies and much more – join the thousands of people who have already made The Co-operative magazine part of their daily routine.

Via EPR Network
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Bread, Cooking, Events, Food, Food & Beverage, Sandwiches

Students’ One Big Idea Hits Supermarket Shelves

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A product designed by budding entrepreneurs from a Hertfordshire high school has hits supermarket shelves across the UK.

The pack of ethical plasters, designed by three female students from Bushey Meads School, so impressed bosses at The Co-operative Group – and original Dragon, Doug Richard – that it’s going on sale in almost 1,700 Co-operative food and pharmacy outlets.

One Careplast plasters are the result of a nationwide competition to design the next One product for Global Ethics, whose products also include One Water and One Eggs, to fund community projects in Africa.

A Level students Emmie Rayat (16), Taylar Leak (17) and Deryn Hertz (17) beat hundreds of entries to design a product that could be sold in the UK to help those most in need in Malawi. They came up with a children’s plaster pack of funky animal-print plasters, sales of which will fund medical kits and bicycle ambulances in Malawi, where rural communities might be up to 15km away from the nearest health centre and medical supplies are often unavailable.

Bicycle ambulances enable healthcare volunteers to travel huge distances on otherwise inaccessible roads to reach patients in remote villages. They take an average of 25 patients a month to hospital – including pregnant women. The medical kits ensure that first aid treatment is available promptly to communities of around 1,000 people.

The talented trio will see the projects for themselves on a trip to Malawi later this year, courtesy of The Co-operative.

Emmie Rayat said: “We’re delighted that our product is going on sale in so many Co-operative outlets across the country. We were shocked to discover that the life expectancy of someone living in Malawi is 43 years, which is younger than some of our parents and incredibly young compared to people in the UK. We’re looking forward to the trip to Malawi and to seeing the communities that have benefited.”

Peter Marks, Group Chief Executive of The Co-operative Group, which has annual sales of £14 billion, helped judge the competition. He said: “The students certainly did their homework and showed real enterprise. They pitched their idea perfectly – from the animal designs on the plasters to the powerful messages on the packaging, it all linked back strongly to funding medication, staff and other health care in Malawi.

“I’m sure the One plasters will prove popular with our customers, as they bring together two key elements of The Co-operative Ethical Plan – inspiring young people and tackling global poverty.”

Via EPR Network
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Beverage, Biscuits, Bread, Cheese, Chocolates, Cookies, Events, Food, Food & Beverage, Meat, Soft Drinks, Sweets

Truly Irresistible Relaunch for The Co-operative

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The Co-operative is relaunching and revamping its premium Truly Irresistible range, with the addition of 50 brand new products for 2011, and an elegant, sleek new look.

The Co-operative Truly Irresistible range provides quality, great-tasting and affordable food within easy reach. With a range of 400 products – including 50 brand new ones for 2011 – there’s something for every occasion – from an indulgent treat to share with family and friends, to inspiration for making the evening meal that little bit more special.

The stylish new Truly Irresistible logo and packaging, which has been created for The Co-operative by Manchester-based GJ Creative, exudes quality and provides a striking on-shelf presence for the premium own-brand range.

The range officially re-launches tomorrow (Wednesday 25 May), when many of the new products – perfect for summer eating – will be available. To encourage shoppers to try the Truly Irresistible products, the entire range will have a minimum of 25% off from 25 May to 14 June 2011 inclusive.

Sean Toal, Commercial Director for The Co-operative Food, said: “With continued pressure on everybody’s purse strings, many people are eating in rather than dining out, so the extended Truly Irresistible range is ideal for those looking to create quality dining experiences at home.

“We’ve added lots of delicious new products to our premium range, as well as reviewing every single Truly Irresistible product to ensure we’re offering the very best in terms of fantastic tasting, quality food at affordable prices for our customers and their families.”

The extended range includes higher-welfare British meat and poultry, as well as fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables and top-quality store cupboard ingredients – all perfect for scratch cooking.

However, there are also some delicious premium pre-prepared meals and desserts to add to any occasion, from family mealtimes and romantic nights in, to picnics and eating alfresco – and all within easy reach at local Co-operative stores.

The launch will be backed by a multi-million pound advertising campaign, which breaks tomorrow. The national TV advert features the now firmly-established family from The Co-operative’s “Passionate Plea” campaign, sitting down at a “table for four” to eat what looks like a restaurant-quality three-course meal, made with delicious Truly Irresistible products, including Parma ham, stone-baked mozzarella, tomato & pesto pizza, garden salad and lemon & summer berry torte. The ads created by TBWAManchester, will also communicate the “at least 25% off” message.

The Co-operative will also use its sponsorship of ITV National Weather to highlight its premium range, with idents featuring several of the hero products in a combination of relaxing summer scenarios and exhilhirating and enjoyable outdoor settings.

The Co-operative will also be extending its digital reach in support of the Truly Irresistible brand. The multi-channel approach will see a re-design of The Co-operative Food’s website ( www.goodwithfood.co.uk ). The new-look website, featuring the re-invigorated Truly Irresistible packaging, will be unwrapped on 25 May.

Via EPR Network
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Bread, Cooking, Events, Food, Food & Beverage, Sandwiches

Help Young Carers with Christmas Sandwiches

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Customers will be able to help young carers across the UK this Christmas, by purchasing special festive sandwiches from The Co-operative Group.

The Co-operative launched three own-brand Christmas sandwiches on 10 November which enable consumers to give charity donations simply when buying their lunch. When purchased, 10p from each sale will go towards funding an online support service for young carers.

YCNet – part of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers – is the only dedicated website and online support service for children and young people under the age of 18, who help to look after someone in their family with an illness, disability, drug/alcohol addiction or mental health problem. Some of the young carers are only five years old.

Earlier this year The Co-operative Group, launched its multi-million pound Inspiring Young People campaign. This is part of its ongoing support and commitment to helping young people in communities across the UK.

The three delicious sandwiches – all £2.50 – include a traditional Turkey, Stuffing, Bacon & Cranberry variety, featuring seasonal food such as butter basted turkey, pork, sage & onion stuffing with a sweet cranberry chutney, mayonnaise and smoke flavour sweetcure bacon on soft malted bread; a Wiltshire Ham & Braised Red Cabbage sandwich with apple and raisin chutney, mayonnaise and spinach on malted mixed grain& seed bread, and a Christmas Dinner Triple, which includes prawn cocktail, turkey & stuffing and cheddar cheese & chutney variants.

Helen Shaw, Sandwich Buyer at The Co-operative, commented: “The young carers’ online service – YCNet – provides a much-needed lifeline for many of these brave and inspiring young people across the country. We’re proud to be raising both money and awareness for this vital service, and this initiative is a great example of The Co-operative’s ongoing commitment to young people.”

Via EPR Network
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