Co-op Group and Southern Co-op given green light to join forces

05 November 2026

The Co-operative Group and Southern Co-op have today received approval from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to join forces, marking a significant milestone for both organisations and the wider co-operative movement.

The decision means Co-op Group and Southern Co-op can now begin the process of bringing the businesses together and progressing detailed migration plans.

It follows the completion of the Transfer of Engagements earlier this year, which saw Southern Co-op’s businesses transfer to Siena Co-operative Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Co-op Group. The two businesses have continued to operate separately while the CMA conducted its review.

CMA approval marks the start of the next chapter for the two organisations, bringing together more than 300 years of co-operative heritage and creating a stronger co-operative society with greater scale, resilience and impact for members, customers, colleagues and communities across the UK.

Southern Co-op currently has*:

  • 173 food stores
  • 83 Starbucks Coffeehouses
  • 69 funeral homes
  • 3 crematoria
  • 4 burial grounds
  • 70+ Welcome franchise stores
  • Circa 330,000 members

Complementing Co-op Group’s:

  • 2,300 food stores
  • 800 funeral homes
  • Wholesale business supplying around 8,000 outlets
  • Leading Legal Services and Insurance businesses
  • 7.5 million members

Work will now begin to bring the businesses together, with the timing of migration differing across different parts of the organisations. For now, both businesses will continue to operate as normal while detailed migration plans are finalised.

Kate Allum, Interim CEO of The Co-operative Group, said:

“Today is a significant moment for our two societies and the wider co-operative movement. CMA approval gives us the green light to begin an exciting new chapter of co-operation.

“By bringing together more than 300 years of co-operative heritage, we have the opportunity to build an even stronger Co-op, with greater scale and resilience, and the ability to deliver more for our members, customers and communities.”

Ben Stimson, CEO of Southern Co-op, said:

"We can now build on Southern Co-op's achievements and take the strengths of our business forward into the next chapter. I’d like to thank colleagues and members for their continued support. Our priority is to maintain our shared values and strengthen the co-operative movement as we join forces in earnest. We’ll keep supporting our colleagues and serving our customers and clients brilliantly through the transition."

The two organisations have a longstanding history of working together, including through the Federal Retail Trading Society (FRTS) buying and supply group and wider collaboration across the co-operative movement.

-Ends-

*As part of the remedies agreed to secure CMA approval for the transaction, 15 convenience stores and two funeral homes across the combined estate will be divested.

Notes to editors

Southern Co-op’s businesses transferred to Siena Co-operative Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Co-op Group, following the Transfer of Engagements earlier this year.

The two businesses continued to operate separately while the CMA considered the transaction.

Following CMA approval, work can now progress to bring the businesses together and finalise migration plans.

There are no immediate changes to existing membership benefits or rewards and members should continue to use their memberships as normal.

For any enquiries, please contact: pressoffice@coop.co.uk