Colleague News: Debbie’s Update, Award Recognition and More
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Published 29 Sep 2026 in Colleagues
Read Debbie’s latest update, celebrate OurCoop’s award success, watch our new store opening podcast, discover colleague travel offers and get involved in Fairtrade Fortnight.
Debbie's Update - Thank you to Sara & a warm welcome to Angela Daulby
Dear colleagues,
I hope you are all keeping safe and well. Following my recent update about Matt Heslop joining us as Chief Officer Food, I wanted to share some further news about our Executive team.
Sara Dunham’s final day with OurCoop is today, Tuesday 29 September, and I want to thank her for everything she has contributed to our Society. Since joining us in 2021, Sara has played an important part in the development of TravelCoop, Little Pioneers. Energy, Mobile and Broadband businesses. She has also shown great care for the communities we serve, including through her support for Go Beyond.
I know colleagues across the Society will join me in thanking Sara for her leadership, energy and commitment, and in wishing her every happiness and success in the next stage of her career.
A thank you to Sara Dunham
I am also pleased to share that Angela Daulby will join us on Tuesday 6 October as Interim Specialist Businesses Operations Officer. I’ll oversee our Specialist Businesses at Executive level, with Angela reporting directly to me. She will work closely with the leaders of each business, providing operational oversight, coordination and support. Each business will continue to be led by its own Chief Operating Officer.
Angela brings more than 30 years of commercial and leadership experience across retail, convenience and foodservice. She joins us from Kepak Foods, where she has been UK Commercial Director, and has previously held senior roles at Kellogg’s, Jacob’s and Walkers. She has a strong reputation for building brands and growing businesses and I look forward to welcoming her to OurCoop.
Welcome to Angela Daulby, who joins us on 6th October
I have spent the past few days at the Labour Party Conference, representing OurCoop in discussions about issues that matter to our Society and the communities we serve. On Sunday, I joined an Association of Convenience Stores panel on rogue trading and the need to support responsible local shops. I also attended the Red Rose reception and a dinner with Alan Milburn, building on our work to create opportunities for young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Yesterday, I joined an event with the Prime Minister and took part in a discussion about growing the co-operative sector. These conversations give us an opportunity to share OurCoop’s perspective with people shaping decisions that affect our Members, colleagues and communities.
Looking ahead to next week, please join me in giving Angela a warm welcome to OurCoop. Thank you, as always, for everything you do.
Best wishes, Debbie
Joining an ACS event panel at the Labour Party Annual Conference
A Week of Recognition for OurCoop
It’s been a fantastic week for OurCoop, with lots to celebrate at this year’s Retail Awards. We were named Best Use of Technology at the Retail Industry Awards for our Reward££s membership proposition and app, and were also shortlisted for Community Retailer of the Year.
We were also recognised at the People in Retail Awards 2026, reaching the finals in three categories: Retail Partner of the Year, Sustainability Champion and Community Impact Award. While we didn’t take home a trophy on the night, being shortlisted across three categories is a brilliant achievement and a reflection of the amazing work our colleagues, Members and partners deliver every day in communities across our trading areas.
PLUS, congratulations to Wendy Botterill, Nursery Manager at Rathvilly Nursery in Birmingham, who has received a Lord Mayor Civic Award nomination. This follows her recent Nursery Management Today (NMT) Awards finalist recognition and is a fantastic achievement for both Wendy and our Early Years business. Well done Wendy!
Together, these achievements highlight the positive difference we make through innovation, sustainability and community impact, and recognise the dedication of colleagues across OurCoop.
New FoodCoop Store Opens in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire
Last week marked another exciting milestone for FoodCoop as we opened the doors to our brand-new convenience store in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire. The opening brought together colleagues, customers and the local community to celebrate the launch, with plenty of activity throughout the weekend, including Golden Ticket giveaways, product sampling and family-friendly fun.
Most importantly, the new store welcomed a number of new colleagues to the FoodCoop team. In this update, we take a closer look at the launch, hear from those involved, and celebrate the positive impact the new store will have in its growing local community.
Watch the podcast below to hear more about the opening, the people behind it and what this new store means for the local community.
Your Next Holiday Starts Here - TravelCoop Colleague Offers ✨
Don't miss out on incredible holiday deals with Co-op Holidays! Plus, as a colleague, you can enjoy an exclusive 15% discount on your booking. 🎉 From relaxing beach holidays 🏖️ and exciting city breaks 🌆 to unforgettable cruises 🚢 and escorted tours 🌍, we've got something for everyone.
Get in touch today and start planning your perfect escape! 🌞✈️
WINTER BREAK TO ICELAND 💚❄️
Reykjavik is the perfect base for exploring Iceland’s incredible winter landscapes – and to head go in search of the Northern Lights.
🏨 Reykjavik Marina – Berjaya Iceland Hotels
💤 3 nights, room only
🛌 Double room
🧳 15kg Luggage per person
📆 30th January 2027
✈ Birmingham
Colleagues save 15% with Co-op Holidays: £416.50pp including £8pp payable locally (non colleague price £490pp)
T&Cs apply. Prices correct as of 16/09/2026, subject to change and availability. Prices based on 2 adults sharing.
21 NIGHTS IN MALTA THIS JANUARY
Swap the winter chill for three weeks in Malta. From the historic streets of Valletta and the Three Cities to beautiful coastal views, local restaurants and relaxed seaside days, there’s plenty to fill three weeks.
4* Qawra Palace Resort & Spa
21 nights, B&B
Standard Room
Return Shared Transfers
Min.20kg luggage per person
23rd January 2027
Luton
Colleagues save 15% with Co-op Holidays: £610pp including £20pp payable locally. (Non colleague price £718pp)
Prices correct as of 16/09/2026, subject to change and availability, based on 2 adults.
Barbados Beauty
Set along the beautiful south coast of Barbados, Sands Barbados offers a relaxed beachfront setting with plenty of space to unwind.
The Sands Barbados
7 nights, Bed & Breakfast
Double Sands Signature Room
Return Shared Transfers
London Heathrow, 23kg luggage
2nd June 2027
Colleagues save 15% with Co-op Holidays: £1,615pp including £26pp payable locally (Non colleague price £1899pp)
Prices correct as of 21/09/2026, subject to change and availability. Prices based on 2 sharing.
5* Luxury on the Turkish Riviera – August Summer Holidays
Looking for a big family holiday in Turkey with plenty to keep everyone entertained? Rixos Sungate is a fantastic option for families wanting sunshine, pools, activities and plenty of choice all in one resort!
5* Rixos Sungate
7 nights, All Inclusive
Double Superior land view
Return Private Transfer
Min.20kg luggage per person
4th August 2027
Birmingham
Colleagues save 15% with Co-op Holidays: £4085 total for a family of 4 (Non colleague price £4805)
Prices correct as of 21/09/2026, subject to change and availability. Price based on 2 adults and 2 children.
Fairtrade Fortnight: Together We Can Improve Lives
Together, we can build the world we want to live in. This Fairtrade Fortnight, we're celebrating over 30 years of supporting Fairtrade and the difference we're making across Food, Mobile, Energy, Travel, Funeral and Early Years. Discover how the choices you make every day help improve lives around the world. 🌍💚
Plus, exclusively for colleagues - enter our competition to win a pair of Fairbuds here!
Celebrating over 30 years of Fairtrade support
This Fairtrade Fortnight, we're celebrating more than 30 years of supporting Fairtrade and the positive difference we can all make through the choices we make every day.
Now more than ever, it's important that we work together to support the people who grow, produce and supply the products we rely on. Like co-operatives, Fairtrade is built on fairness, partnership and creating opportunities for communities to thrive.
Every time you choose a Fairtrade product, you're helping farmers and workers receive a fair price, invest in their communities and build a more secure future for their families.
Fairtrade in action across OurCoop
From bananas and coffee to flowers and chocolate, Fairtrade has been part of OurCoop's story for decades. Together with our members and customers, we've helped lead the way in responsible and ethical sourcing.
Eight ways we're improving lives
☕ Fairtrade Tea All our own-brand tea has been Fairtrade for more than 10 years, helping support tea-growing communities in Kenya and Malawi.
🌱 Fairtrade Coffee We switched our entire own-brand coffee range to Fairtrade in 2003, supporting smallholder farmers across South America, Africa and Southeast Asia.
🍷 Fairtrade Wine We were the first retailer to launch an own-brand Fairtrade wine and have since become the world's leading retailer of Fairtrade wine.
🌹 Fairtrade Flowers We were the first retailer to source 100% Fairtrade roses from Africa, helping ensure flowers are grown and supplied responsibly.
🍌 Fairtrade Bananas From becoming the first retailer to stock Fairtrade bananas in 2000 to sourcing all our bananas from Fairtrade producers, we've continued to champion banana-growing communities.
🔥 Fairtrade Charcoal Through our partnership with Traidcraft, our Fairtrade charcoal range supports producers and workers in Namibia.
🍫 Fairtrade Cocoa We were the first UK retailer to source all cocoa on Fairtrade terms and launched the world's first own-brand 100% Fairtrade chocolate range.
🍬 Fairtrade Sugar Since 2004, we've supported sugar growers in Belize by selling Fairtrade sugar and helping strengthen local farming communities.
It's About More Than Food
Our commitment to improving lives extends across our family of businesses.
Mobile
We're proud to be the UK's number one provider of Fairphone, the environmentally sustainable and repairable smartphone. Fairphone continues to lead the way in sourcing materials more responsibly and improving conditions within global supply chains.
Energy
Our community energy tariff is powered by 100% community-run renewable electricity generated by more than 250 community energy projects across the UK.
Broadband
All our broadband plans are carbon neutral through our partnership with Ecologi, supporting projects around the world that reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability.
Funeral
We offer a range of eco-conscious funeral options, including Fairtrade hand-woven pandanus, bamboo and banana leaf coffins. We also plant a tree for every funeral we care for.
Travel
Through flight-free travel options, tree-planting initiatives and support for our charity partner Go Beyond, we're helping people explore the world more responsibly while supporting communities and protecting the environment.
Early Years
At Little Pioneers, children are encouraged to understand how their actions can make a positive difference to both local and global communities, helping inspire the next generation of responsible citizens.
Together, We Can Make a Difference
Whether you're a lifelong Fairtrade supporter or just discovering its impact, every choice matters.
By choosing Fairtrade products, supporting responsible businesses and encouraging others to do the same, you're helping create a fairer future for communities around the world.
This Fairtrade Fortnight, take a moment to reflect on the difference your choices can make and the positive impact we can achieve when we work together.
Remember, whatever you do, Do it Fair! 🌍💚