Anyone shops at the Co-op?

[kiskidee]

And if so why?

I used to shop at the Co-op about 20yrs ago as a student.

In those days they had a good range of veggie things when other shops didn't and they were also the first (I think?) supermarket to not test their own brand shampoo, shower gels etc on animals.

I also like mine. The aisles are really wide so brilliant for any sort of buggy, they stock a wide range and I appreciate the ethical ranges they do. They don't stock organic skimmed milk though and they are generally more expensive than the other supermarkets.

It no the closest shop to walk to no car, but it the only one that doesn't have a huge step when you have buggy.

Only get bread if i run out during the week.

I use the Co-op most of the time because they're the most ethical (along with Waitrose but the nearest one is miles away). They offer a good choice of Fair Trade, also offer dividends, which mount up and it's never busy. They also sell a certain amount of locally produced food, which is a great idea. Also like Budgens for the same reasons. Both are more expensive than the big supermarkets, but you end up buying less, as the range is not so extensive. I hate, with a passion, Tesco and would never shop there ever again. Asda are almost as bad. I like the Co-op, and find the idea of still having to repeat my divvy number very homely

i'm asking cause the co-op seems to be the supermarket that remained faithful when the economy of the nearest town took a nosedive in the thatcher era. now the town is finally on the up and first Sainsbo now ASDA is moving into the area. I can't stand asda and the prices in the Sainsbo minimart are ripoff.

it isn't got the biggest range but seems to have what i want/need. I wish it would expand a bit more and keep its footing when ASDA opens.

We have a couple nearby. They are fine for bits and pieces - the fruit and veg are always good but I suspect it's because there's a high turnover. I hated co op in my student days because the town centre ones were always groady. However, we live in the country now and the co ops here are pretty good - better than londis or spar.

Thre isn't one near home, but if I pop out of work at lunchtime I'll often go there rather than Somerfield because it's a new store and more pleasant to shop in.

Also has self-scan tills, v efficient for bread-and-milk type shopping.

Their wine is also pretty good - had a revelatory experience popping into the Co-op in Cowes for some cheap plonk whilst camping - found a half-price gem so went and bought a case when we came home...

We have a local one which we use occasionally, but we use it a lot less since it took out its organic fridge (fruit juice, ham, butter, milk, cheese etc) because there was apparently no demand .
It doesn't stock pull-ups for children aged over two, any organic fruit and veg at all, any fresh herbs or any non-dubious-looking meat. As other say, fine if you need some fairtrade coffee, tea or chocolate. But I think they are missing a trick tbh.
And the Co-Op generally is off my list after closing its excellent department store in our suburban high street. It's torn the heart out of what remained of a once-OK shopping centre

Not for main shop as we only have a co-op convenience store but I do find it quite good for top-ups. As someone who works for a supermarket supplier I have to say that the co-op are fairer and less outrageously bullying than almost all the others. I also like the fair-trade stuff.

Message withdrawn

I do an internet shop once a month (Tesco ) and use our local Co-op for everything else. It is great, the staff are very friendly and helpful, the fruit and veg is excellent and they are always restocking with fresh stuff when I am there, there are loads of BOGOF's and a type of ham is alway half price at the deli. Also very keen that their ethics are good and hope it cancels out a bit of my Tesco's guilt. Only supermarket local to me to stock Ecover products and Nature baby nappies too.

I only get bits and bobs, but they are really too expensive, the fridgeas don't seem to work properly and I have noticced a lot of out of date stuff. I just hate waiting for ages at the tills, that's why I go elsewhere to do my 'big shop'. Apparently, Sainsbury's has been granted permission to open a new store near that local Co-op

Our corner shop is co-op. Its rubbish. I bought chicken there a few months ago and it was off when I opened it. It was a nightmare when I took it back. I didn't get a receipt but it said co-op on it and was well in date. But oh no. They wanted to know exactly when I bought it, what time, what else I bought etc so they could check their computer records.
I was in there for over half an hour while they checked their records... Very embarrassing - my old neighbour was there and I felt like a criminal or something. In the end I got my money back (x2) but I now make sure I always get a receipt even if I'm just buying a pint of milk. In fact, the milk is often a bit whiffy too...Think they have a problem with their fridges or something.

is this in the neighbouring village to us?

or the off licence or newsagents?

they are also shite to work for

Thats crap hotandbothered, I had a chicekn from our co-op once and that was off. I didn't take it back, just mentioned it in passing to the check out woman the next day and she gave me my money back.

Our local one is BRILLIANT but only a local-size. It's across the road from a good butcher and a nice deli (two sources of nice ham ) and round the corner from a farm shop. Perfect for dry goods, frozen bits and pieces and bakery.

The local Co-op superstore closed and was taken over by Tesco. Co-op had hosted the local farmers' market but Tesco booted them out so we now have to travel a considerable distance if we want to go to a farmers' market with more than about 3 stalls.