Journal of Co-operative Studies, 45(1), 7-26

Abstract

Between 1958 and 2001 lie forty plus years of decline in co-operative retailing. The 2001 Co-operative Commission takes for granted that there is an advantage to being a co-operative and that consumers (shoppers) can be made to realise benefits of membership. This paper asks what it will take for co-operatives to 'Be the Best' given that in the retail field they compete with some of the leading retailers in the world. It concludes that the co-operative advantage has to be earned not assumed and that much business pain will have to be endured to earn such standing.