HOSTED BY LINCOLNSHIRE CO-OPERATIVE

In September the Business Women’s Link monthly meeting was hosted by Lincolnshire Co-operative.  Ladies who attended were treated to Fairtrade and local choice produce including wine, juices, cake, crisps and chocolate.  A informative and interesting presentation was given by Heather Lee, Head of People and Performance at Lincolnshire Co-op, who also sits on the Senior Management Team. 

Heather explained how the Co-operative has grown from its humble beginnings, being founded by a plumber from Gainsborough Thomas Parker in 1861 on Frederick Street (now Pelham Bridge), to now being the most successful independent Co-operative in the country.  Lincolnshire Co-operative has over 176,000 members and all BWL members are encouraged to join. It has 200 outlets and 2,500 staff.  The outlets include food stores, the 70^th one recently being opened in Old Leake near Boston, pharmacies, funeral homes, travel agents, filling stations and The Holland Brothers Jaguar Dealership.  There is a substantial property portfolio, including (for those who like a night out) the building in which Chicago Rock is currently housed (known as Thomas Parker House) and the Head Office, Stanley Bett House named after a previous Chief Executive.

Heather was proud to confirm that training and development of staff is a key part of the Co-op’s mission statement and that 64% of the profit made each year is reinvested into development and acquisitions including the recent refurbishment of stores.  A dividend scheme is run for members and five fold dividend points are offered on Fairtrade and local produce.  The Co-op is heavily involved in the local community making grants and donations ranging from small raffle prizes (a raffle prize was donated to BWL’s Summer event) to funding an education officer at the Epic Centre at the Showground.The Co-op supports local produce through its “local choice” range and identifies local suppliers who they enjoy working with including the suppliers of Pipers crisps and Batemans beer and chutneys.

The idea of Fairtrade came to the UK market in 2000 with the Co-op being the first organisation bringing Fairtrade bananas into the UK.  One in four bananas now purchased in the UK is Fairtrade and the target is 50% by 2012. Each February to March sees a Fairtrade fortnight and this year the Co-op was involved in the world banana eating record encouraging their staff to eat Fairtrade bananas on the same day.  The Co-op donated 1200 bananas to Branston Community College so that their pupils could join in. 

The Co-op produces Fairtrade chocolate, coffee, sugar and tea and encourages all staff to drink one Fairtrade drink each day.  The Co-op stock a range of Fairtrade produce including fruit, hot drinks, chocolate, cotton, flowers, honey, peanuts and somewhat unusually, Fairtrade coffins.

Many thanks to Heather and her colleagues for hosting this event.