What's been going on?

So, what's been going on in the Co-operative Group in the last couple of months?

Quite a bit. Plastic bags seem to have been all but banned from most Co-operative shops, with customers now getting the choice between a compostable carrier bag (made from corn starch, I believe) which costs 6p, a heavy duty plastic bag-for-life that costs 10p, and a Fairtrade cotton carrier bag for 99p. Personally I try to use the cotton ones, but if I've left it at home, I do find that the compostable ones can easily last for a few trips, and then then be used to consign compostable waste to our green bin.

The society is gearing up for elections! Any members who could spare some time each month for the Co-operative Group are asked to consider standing for election. There's lots more details on The Co-operative Website. If you are in any doubt as to stand or not, I would definitely recommend that you do. I was in two minds about it, decided to stand at the last minute, and have thoroughly enjoyed it over the last three or four years. I quite often walk home from a committee meeting feeling quite elated at some of the good stuff that the Co-op does - and that the local committee can help bring about.

Ranjit and the Cambridge and East Anglia committee have been busy putting on various events - the last one that I attended was the food ethics evening at the Moller Centre in Cambridge. A really great night that benefited from having a very knowledgeable panel including the manager of our very own Co-operative Farm at Coldham.

Always a key date in the Co-op year in Cambridge is the Folk Festival. The Co-operative were once again sponsor of the creche, but this year also had two very well patronised retail units selling everything that a festival goer needs. Our membership stand this year was drumming up support for our Cruelty-Free Cleaning campaign. I must admit that, being on honeymoon, I played absolutely no role in this whatsoever! Talking to those who did, though, it seems that the Co-operative presence was as successful as ever.

And of course, the exciting takeover of Somerfield is progressing behind the scenes. If this goes to plan and it is completed, we will be the fifth largest retailer in the country, with 8% of the market share. Exciting times......

Image from http://cambridgefolkfestival2008.blogspot.com/