Midlands Co-operative Society and co-operative societies that merged to form Midlands Co-operative Society

Midlands Co-operative Society was formed in April 1995 following the merger of Central Midlands Co-operative Society and Leicestershire Co-operative Society. The aim was to create a nucleus for the consolidation of Co-operative trading across the Midlands. The society was headed by Len Fyfe who, at the time of merger, was the Leicestershire Co-operative Society's Chief Executive and CWS chairman. His deputy was the Central Midlands Chief Executive Willie Tucker. The society traded in Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire and in 1985 had 8,000 employees and 180 food stores. Following the merger, the Society rebranded itself under the Co-op Extra Superstores signage.

Central Midlands Co-operative Society had been formed in 1985 as a result of the merger of Greater Midlands Co-operative Society and East Midlands Co-operative Society. These societies themselves were formed as a result of mergers and transfer of engagements of other societies including Dudley; Birmingham and its subsidiaries Alcester, Halesowen and Hasbury, Soho and Ten Acres and Stirchley; Stafford and Stone; Derby; Burton on Trent; Mayfield; and North East Midlands and its subsidiaries Langley Mill and Aldercar, Ripley, Selston and Codnor Park and Ironville.

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