Co-op changing 'ways of working' as costs rise

59 minutes ago

David McKennaEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

News image — The organisation says it is making changes to its business to ensure "it is sustainable in the long-term"

PA Media A shopper carrying a blue Co-op bag inside a store. There is an array of products on a beige wooden shelf in the background. — The organisation says it is making changes to its business to ensure "it is sustainable in the long-term"

Lincolnshire Co-op says it is making changes to its business to ensure "it is sustainable in the long-term".

The independent co-operative, which employs more than 2,770 people in the county and surrounding areas, operates more than 200 trading sites, including food, pharmacies, travel branches and funeral homes.

Proposals include investment in technology, including self-service checkouts, as well as a new focus on healthcare and housing.

The firm said it was "reviewing our ways of working" and was consulting on proposals to cut 27 jobs from its pharmacy warehouse in Lincoln, as well as consulting with 52 colleagues at its support centre in the city about proposed changes to their roles.

The society said it was working with the Usdaw union through a period of consultation, and had been able to minimise compulsory redundancies at the support centre to fewer than 10.

Chief executive Alison Hands said: "Many businesses across the UK are experiencing challenges – and Lincolnshire Co-op is not immune.

"Our costs continue to rise, including significant increases in the National Living Wage and National Insurance, and in the latest half year financial results we reported that our turnover and trading profit are both down.

"This plan includes new technology, such as electronic shelf edge labels and self-checkouts in food stores, and improved IT systems across all our business areas.

"It does mean having to take difficult decisions, including reviewing our ways of working."

As well as proposed operational changes, Lincolnshire Co-op said it had made changes to its property portfolio to enable future investment in healthcare and housing.

Examples include transferring ownership of the Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln to the Wykeland Group, in May, as well as marketing other properties it owns.

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