Co-operatives Past to Present

The consumer Co-operative Movement has its roots in the early part of the nineteenth century, when the problems of the Industrial revolution had serious consequences for the working classes. Many had difficulty in obtaining unadulterated food for a fair price.

Robert Owen, a practising capitalist during this time, envisaged a new form of society based on co-operation. Robert Owen saw co-operation as a way of producing wealth and facilitating international peace.

His views stimulated much thought and in 1844 the first retail Co-operative shop opened, by a Society formed by 28 men, famously named the Rochdale Pioneers. The concept was to encourage customers to join as members for a nominal sum and in return receive a share of the profits in the form of a dividend on
their purchases.

The idea proved popular and thus inspired others across the country to establish their own Co-operative Societies. Their rate of growth was remarkable and by 1900, there were over 1400 small Societies across the United Kingdom.