Raunds Co-operative Society

Raunds Co-operative Society Limited was a consumer co-operative society based in Raunds, Northamptonshire, founded in 1891.Cite web
url=http://mutuals.fsa.gov.uk/SocietyDetails.aspx?Number=3003&Suffix=R
title=Raunds Co-operative Society Limited, number 3003R
publisher=FSA
work=Mutuals Public Register
accessdate=2008-08-11]

The society operated a large supermarket and a department store in Raunds, and as of 2007 held convert|350|acre|km2 of farmland at Northdale Farm, farming wheat and oilseed rape. [Cite web
url=http://www.thenews.coop/index.php?content=story&id=1173
title=Midlands in Raunds merger talks
date=2007-05-18
work=Co-operative News
accessdate=2008-08-11] It had 4,297 members in 2003. [Cite web
url=http://www.thenews.coop/index.php?content=story&id=191
title=Record profits for Raunds Co-op
date=2003-11-17
work=Co-operative News
accessdate=2008-08-11] It was a subscriber to the Co-operative Party and a customer member (shareholder) of the Co-operative Wholesale Society.

In 1983, it merged with the Ringstead Distributive Co-operative Society.

In early 2007, directors of the society presented to members a plan to merge with the much large Midlands Co-operative Society, [Cite web
url=http://www.thenews.coop/index.php?content=story&id=1186|title=Record profits for Raunds Co-op
title=Members set to seal Raunds' future
date=2007-06-21
work=Co-operative News
accessdate=2008-08-11] but it did not reach the required vote of two thirds of members when put to a special general meeting on 5 July 2007. However, a confirmatory meeting was held on 16 August and this time the vote to merge was carried. [Cite web
url=http://www.midlandsco-op.com/pr/article/Statement_relating_to_merger_between_Midlands_Co-o
date=2007-08-23
title=Press release: Statement relating to merger between Midlands Co-o
publisher=Midlands Co-operative Society
accessdate=2008-08-11] The two societies merged on 26 August 2007.

See also

*Co-op
*Co-op UK
*the Co-operative Group

References