Co-operatives supporting co-operatives really can be a powerful thing. Gemma Sills, Head of Partnerships, reflects on attending the 2026 Co-op Retail Conference, hosted by Co-operatives UK, and held in Glasgow from 19-21 March.
This was my first time at the Co-op Retail Conference, and I was blown away by the sense of co-operation throughout. Of course, a conference that brings co-operative retail businesses together would naturally focus on co-operation – it is the very foundation on which these businesses are built. However, it was the energy, warmth and enthusiasm of the entire experience that truly made this conference stand out.
Hannah Barrett, Plunkett’s Partnership Manager, and I started off by joining the Consumer Council – a meeting between the large co-op retail societies to network, discuss matters of common interest, and exchange information and ideas. We were grateful for the opportunity to showcase Plunkett’s work with community-owned businesses and to introduce the Co-operative Retail Society Network (CRSN) to a wider range of society members.
Following this, it was wonderful to bring together members of the CRSN – a Plunkett formed collective made up of individual retail societies that together help boost the resource and expertise needed to help the growth and resilience of the rural community-owned business sector. Through sharing skills, expertise and financial contributions to Plunkett’s work, CRSN members are bringing to life Principles 5 and 6 of the co-operative code. The meeting provided an opportunity to celebrate the co-operative nature of the CRSN, reflect on the incredible impact the community business sector has had over the past year, and outline plans for the months ahead. This included a collaborative focus on the upcoming Co-op Fortnight, which this year will take place between 22nd June and 5th July.
Friday was the main conference day and featured an impressive line up of speakers. Highlights included Graham McClean from the Institute of Grocery Distribution, who shared a fascinating presentation on trends and forecasts for UK retail, and Jessie Macneil Brown from Ben & Jerry’s and Becky Willan from Given, who led an engaging discussion on turning values into advantage. Together, Debbie Robinson (CEO of OurCoop), Ben Stimson (CEO of Southern Co-op), Martin Rogers (Head of New Channels at Co-op Group), and Rose Marley (CEO of Co-operatives UK) explored what the current retail environment means for co-operatives and how working together can help strengthen society resilience.
Across our three days in Glasgow, the genuine enthusiasm for collaboration really shone through. At a time when society can feel increasingly divided, it was incredibly heartening to experience the spirit of co-operation for a few days. Much like the community-owned businesses that Plunkett is proud to support, the network of co-op retail societies continues to go above and beyond for the people and places they serve.
It is this genuine desire to work together that will bring about real and lasting change.
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