Derby Co-operative Provident Society

The society was formed in 1850 and had its central premises on Albert Street. By 1887 it had 5,058 members and traded in grocery, drapery, shoes and boots, furnishing, butchery, tailoring, millinery, coal, flour and baking. By 1900 it had 37 branches.

The society started to offer funeral services to members in 1926 with the commencement of their Funeral Furnishings Department.

By 1966 the society had 107,895 members and had premises in all over Derby as well as in Ashbourne and Uttoxeter. It traded in grocery, butchery, bread and confectionery, greengrocery, fruit and fish, beer, wines and spirits, drapery and fashion, men's wear, footwear, furnishing and hardware, electrics, chemists, optical, hairdressing, funerals, photography, seeds and pet food, sports outfitting, travel, motor and cycle accessories; it had building, painting and decorating show rooms; it repaired boots and shoes; and its member services included a restaurant, tailoring and weddings.

On 15 January 1970 the society merged and became Derby and Burton Co-operative Society.

Sources: The Co-operative Union directories. Publications: David Boydell, "Centenary Story: 100 years of co-operation in Derby" and George Jacob Holyoake and Amos Scotton, "Jubilee History of the Derby Co-operative Provident Society Ltd"

From the guide to the Papers of the Derby Co-operative Provident Society - Undertaking Department, 21 Apr 1931, (The National Co-operative Archive)