This year marks a milestone anniversary for the Channel Islands Co-operative, whose story began with the opening of a small St Helier corner shop in June 1919.
Now one of the largest retailers in Jersey and Guernsey, the co-op traces its roots to the establishment of the Jersey Co-operative Society, which opened its first store at 41 New Street on 30 June 1919, selling confectionary and bakery products. Two years later the society opened another store at 24 Charing Cross.
The Jersey co-op carried on expanding the business and acquiring new buildings until the start of World War II, when the territory fell under German occupation.
The Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles to be occupied by the Nazis during the war. The Jersey co-operative was able to not only survive the challenges faced during this period, but also come out of the war with the ability to enable payment of a dividend of 5p and a bonus of 1p. After the war, the Guernsey Society was established in 1947, with its first shop on No. 2 Market Street.
At the time, both the Jersey and the Guernsey Societies were supported by a CWS Supervisory Committee, which meant they were subject to UK taxation. They decided to merge in 1955 and registered an office in Jersey. The new Channel Islands Co-operative Society was no longer subject to UK taxation.
Following the merger, the society continued to expand and venture into new sectors. Nowadays it spans across a range of businesses, running food stores, funeral homes, pharmacies, and healthcare centres. It boasts 125,000 members, the equivalent of 76% of the total population of the islands, to whom it returned a total of £7.97m in 2019.
To celebrate its milestone anniversary, the co-op carried out a number of activities and promotions bringing together suppliers, customers and the local community to showcase how it has been making a difference over the past 100 years.
“It is important to look back at where we’ve come from,” says Carl Winn, head of marketing, membership and travel.
“Many companies now have CSR policies but this has been the backbone of the co-operative model and what we’ve been doing for 100 years. We are at the heart of the community and we will continue to be so.”
As part of its year-long centenary celebrations, the society launched a 100 Year Community Fund and 100 hours’ colleague volunteering. Launched in April, the 100 Year Community Fund invited applications from local charities, schools and community groups needing funding for a project that will help them make a real difference in their community, and can be completed in 100 days. The ten successful projects that will each receive £1,000 to carry out the work.
Colleagues were volunteered to support community projects and initiatives that are close to their hearts while customers were also invited to take part in a competition run in partnership with Jersey Dairy to create a new flavour of ice cream. On the week of the anniversary, the society hosted an event at the Jersey Zoo attended by 350 members and colleagues. Another initiative saw colleagues and members plant 100 trees.
Customers also benefited from promotions with 100 pounds off a selected range of goods in non-food stores and double dividend days.
The society shared stories from past decades in local press, trying to raise awareness about its contribution to the local community. The celebratory activities were highlighted on social media using the hashtag #CICOOP100.
“Like the founding members in 1919 we are temporary custodians of the business and we need to ensure we plan for future generations so that we are around for the next 100 years. In terms of what’s next, it is doing more of the same and sharing our stories a lot more,” added Mr Winn.
