Lights, camera, action as Co-op’s Leicester distribution network stars in new film

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 11/04/2018

A specially created film will allow customers and members of Central England Co-op to have a behind the scenes look at how their shopping ends up in their baskets.

Filmmakers have created a video showcasing the massive amount of work undertaken by colleagues at the Society’s Leicester-based distribution hub to supply hundreds of stores across 16 counties.

As well as offering a never before seen look at Central England Co-op’s distribution operation, the movie also reveals some amazing statistics that show just what goes into shelves stocked all year round.

Some of these facts and figures include:

• The three distribution sites deliver to over 200 hundred stores, 24 hours a day, 364 days a year
• Over 30 million cases of products are delivered each year including 150,000 tubs of chocolate at Christmas and 80,000 cases of chocolate eggs at Easter
• The Food Distribution Centre helps Central England Co-op’s environmental work by helping to recycle 345 tonnes of cardboard every single month

Robin Farrell, Head of Distribution and Logistics at Central England Co-operative, said: “This film is a great showcase of the continuous hard work of all the colleagues who support the Society’s distribution operation.

“We hope that it shows the scale of what our teams do and emphasises that we do all this and more for our customers and members all year round.”

Over 300 workers help supply over 200 stores across 16 counties from the Society’s Food Distribution Centre, which is spread over 120,000 sq ft and is the equivalent size of six Olympic swimming pools.

The Society’s distribution hub is also home to a 42,000 sq ft Chilled Distribution Centre which supplies everything from turkeys and pork pies to double cream and fruit.

Notes to editors

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About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. 

It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, and property investment.

Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2018.

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative

Rob Smyth / Heather Clapton at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140

Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop