Half Yearly Meetings, Convenience Webinar & Nursery Practitioner Day

Firstly, a thank you to my Guest Blogger last week, Rupert Newman, Chief Retail Officer, Food & Pharmacy.  It was great to hear your updates across our sectors in the run-up to the busy ‘Golden Quarter of Retail’ and some of the interesting products that will fill our shelves over the coming months. If you missed the video blog, watch it here.

 

Half Yearly Meetings

This week saw the conclusion of our Half Yearly Meetings, which this year, all took place virtually and were an opportunity for members to be updated, get involved and have their say.

I am delighted that some 387 Members joined us across the two meetings where I gave an update on the Society’s performance in the first half of this year and talked about the impact of the Covid pandemic on our various trading groups.  We had lots of questions from members, which was fantastic to see and Helen Wiseman, our President and I did our best to answer as many as possible.

 

 

In the meeting, we also showed a short video that showcased some of the Society highlights from the first half of the year, which you can view here.

 

We also shared with members how we have been continuing to support local communities; whether through Community grants, Funds, Regional Community partnerships or by supporting local suppliers. At the meetings, we heard special messages from some of these groups, which you can view here.

Feedback from members about the meetings has been overwhelming positive and I am pleased that despite the challenges of the current times we continue to engage with members, but let’s hope that in the not too distant future we can once again meet with members in person.

I would like to thank everyone who was in involved in making these meetings possible including my co-presenters Helen Wiseman and Edward Parker and special thanks to Tarra Simmons for pulling it all together.

 

Convenience Conference – Talking sustainability

Last week, I had the chance to speak at the Convenience Conference, which was held online. During the live webinar to the UK convenience market, I discussed how businesses need to re-evaluate their sustainable outlook, understanding that being a sustainable business went beyond the environment and had a broader focus.

I talked about how it is more about understanding a store’s eco-system, in other words highlighting the fact that the store is at the heart of its community and therefore affects that particular community in many ways. This could be around educating our communities more, the role we play in nutrition, using our energy more effectively or making our food waste & packaging more sustainable. Looking at all these different areas mean that we take a wider approach towards a sustainable future.

 

Co-op Childcare National Nursery Practitioner Day

 

In the same month that Co-op Childcare was named as one of the Top 20 nursery groups in the UK, parents and children at their nurseries have been showing their appreciation for our colleagues as part of National Nursery Practitioner Day, which takes place tomorrow, October 17^th.

I think it’s a fitting and timely tribute to all the hard work and dedication of nursery nurses, especially given the recent challenges and so I would like to add a big well done and thank you to all of the Co-op Childcare team.

 

Brexit

I am disappointed that as we near the end of the UK transition period there is still no agreement between the UK Government and European Union on any kind of trade deal or free ‘movement of goods’ arrangements. It is likely that discussions will continue through to the end of this month although we have now passed, the Prime Minister has declared a deadline of 15th October.

We are continuing to prepare for all eventualities and working through our various trade organisations and most importantly the national Co-operative supply chain operations to deal with any outcome. I am sure you would all agree that with all the disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic and financial pressure this is heaping on everyone, the Governments of the EU countries and the UK need to act responsibly and bring matters to a conclusion sooner rather than later. 

 

As always, if you have any questions or comments then please leave them below.