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.

Leicestershire Co-operative Society was formed in 1968 as a result of the merger of several smaller societies including Kettering and its subsidiaries Walgrave and Thrapston; Leicester and its subsidiaries Whetstone, Kirkby Muxloe, Cosby, Mount Sorrell, Rothley, Quordon, Oadby, Burbage, Croft, Loughborough, Ratby, Glenfield and Groby; Coalville and its subsidiaries Markfield and Ashby de la Zouch; South Leicestershire and its subsidiaries Broughton Astley, Huncote, Fleckney, Enderby, Wigston and Great Glen; Shepshed and Hathern; Rothwell; Melton Mowbray and Market Harborough.

In 2001 Chesterfield and District Co-operative Society merged to become part of Midlands Co-operative Society. Chesterfield itself had been formed through the merger of Chesterfield, Eckington, Oxcroft, Staveley Town, Heath Williamthorpe, Pilsley and Whittington co-operative societies.

In 2006 Desborough Industrial Society and Ilkeston Consumer Co-operative became part of Midlands Co-operative Society.

In 2010 Midlands Co-operative Society claimed to be the largest independent retail society in the U.K with gross sales in excess of £918 million and employing 8000 people.

Sources: Co-operative News (1995); The Co-op in Birmingham and the Black Country, by Ned Williams (1993); Midlands Co-operative Society website- www.midlandsco-op.com

From the guide to the Midlands Co-operative Society, 1854-2011, (National Co-operative Archive)