Anglia Regional Co-operative Society - Trading

Trading

Under its rules, “The objects of the Society are to carry on the business of a store-keeper, general dealer and universal provider in all its branches, and in particular to buy, sell, manufacture, produce, grow, cultivate and deal in goods, stores, consumable articles, chattels and effects of all kinds, both wholesale and retail and generally to engage in any business, trade or industry which may seem to the Society directly or indirectly conducive to the interests or convenience of the Society's members or any section thereof.” In addition, the aims state, “The Society shall at all times conduct its business and affairs in accordance with the Rochdale Principles of Co-operation, as published from time to time by the International Co-operative Alliance, serving the needs of its customers, employees and the communities in which it trades.” In practice, the Society’s principal undertakings today, besides food and fuel retail, comprise the provision of funeral, optical, travel and foreign exchange services. Its previous engagements include department and furniture stores, motor car dealerships, dispensing chemists, dairy and bakery.

In 2004, United Co-operatives Ltd., based in the North West of England, announced that it no longer intended to include department stores in its primary strategy, leading to the sale of seven stores, mostly inherited from the Yorkshire Co-operative Society, to the Anglia Society. In 2005, the Co-operative Group also announced its decision to exit the department store sector and, in 2006, a further seven stores, this time located in the South East of England, were transferred to the Anglia Society. The Group subsequently merged with United in 2007. Thus, through acquisition, many Westgate branches were situated further afield than the core Eastern region.

In 2007, the Society—by now the largest in the non-food sector—formed the Anglia Buying Service, making its buying and logistics expertise available to other co-operatives. In 2008, it launched an electronic commerce venture, selling bedroom, living and dining room furniture, with free delivery throughout Great Britain.

In 2011, the business of 19 Westgate Department Stores, including Contact Electrical and Comfortmaker Textile Superstores was divested to J E Beale Plc for £7.5m. Ownership of the freehold properties remains with the Society, which will continue to operate AHF furniture and carpets, Co-operative Travel, Westgate Optical and Stylistics hair and beauty concessions; Beales is committed to maintain and honour the dividend at these branches. The Co-operative Home store in Hartlepool and Westgate stores at Blyth, Scunthorpe and March were not included in the sale. The site of the March store was sold to Reef Estates Ltd. and the premises leased to W Boyes & Co Ltd., although the Co-operative Travel branch previously based there was unaffected, relocating to its own premises. The Hartlepool store closed on 30 November when the Society's 10 year lease expired. The Blyth and Scunthorpe stores continue to trade as Westgate for the time being due to devalued freehold and a long running lease, although it has been reported that management are “reviewing the format and pursuing any opportunities that give the stores and the staff the best prospects for the future.”

Later in 2011, AHF Home Furnishings was transferred to Anglia Home Furnishings Ltd. as a going concern. A partner of the Society, Anglia Home Furnishings Holdings Ltd. is the largest employee-owned co-operative in the UK. The sale included ARCS Internet Ltd. trading as Co-op Furniture, the online store of AHF and Westgate, which has since been renamed AHF Internet Ltd.