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the Co-operative Group is a United Kingdom Consumers' Co-operative , one of the largest consumer-owned businesses in the world. The current name was adopted in 2001 following the acquisition of Co-operative Retail Services in 2000. HISTORY The Co-operative Group formed gradually over 140 years from the merger of many independent retail societies, and their wholesale societies and federations. In 1863 , twenty years after the Rochdale Pioneers opened their co-operative, the North of England Co-operative Society was launched by 300 individual co-ops across Yorkshire and Lancashire . By 1872 , it had become known as the Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS). Through the 20th Century , smaller societies merged with CWS, such as the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society (1973) and the South Suburban Society (1984). The "Co-op" revolutionised food retailing, with the "divi" and the "divi number" being an integral part of British life. in Newcastle Upon Tyne .]] By the 1990s , CWS's share of the market had declined considerably and many came to doubt the viability of co-operative model. CWS sold its factories to Andrew Regan in 1994 . Regan returned in 1997 with a £1.2 billion bid for CWS. There were allegations of " Carpet-bagging " - new members who joined simply to make money from the sale - and more seriously fraud and commercial leaks. After a lengthy battle, Regan's bid was seen off and two senior CWS executives were dismissed and imprisoned for fraud. Regan was cleared of charges. The episode recharged CWS and its membership base. Tony Blair 's Co-operative Commission , chaired by John Monks , made major recommendations for the co-operative movement, including the organisation and marketing of the retail societies. It was in this climate that, in 2000, CWS merged with the UK's second largest society, Co-operative Retail Services. Its headquarter complex is situated on the north side of Manchester city centre adjacent to the Manchester Victoria railway station. The complex is made up of many different buildings with two notable tower blocks of New Century House and the CIS tower. Other independent societies, such as United Co-op, have close relationships with the Group. Senior staff from the smaller societies make up a large element of the national board. The Group manages the Co-operative Retail Trading Group (CRTG), which produces and sources goods for the supermarkets of most of the societies under a common brand. There is a similar purchasing group (CTTG) for co-operative travel agents. BUSINESSES The Group has 25% of the co-operative retail business in the UK and substantial shares in certain wider markets, including funerals and pharmacies. In food retail, it has 5% of the UK market, in approximately sixth place, down from 30% in the 1950s , with much of the rest of the market taken by individual independent shops. Food Retail The Society operates over 1,700 food stores across the UK. Its stores are categorised into three sizes: ''Welcome'' convenience stores; ''Market Town'' small supermarkets; ''Superstores'' full-scale supermarkets. Finance The financial subsidiary, Co-operative Financial Services (or CFS), is made up of the Co-operative Bank with the Smile internet bank and the Co-operative Insurance Society (or CIS). Travel The Society operates the UK's largest independent travel agency, Travelcare, with 380 branches as well as direct-sales through telephone and the internet. Funerals Co-operative Funeralcare is the UK's largest funeral director with over 500 branches. Pharmacies One of the largest operators in Europe with over 300 branches in the UK. Non-food retail The Society is in the process of selling or closing its department stores. See article on BBC News . Farming The Society manages over 85,000 acres of land across the UK. Cars and property The Society operates Priory Motor Group, a car dealership business, as well as a successful property business that manages investment and trading properties. Engineering Syncro is the engineering and building services business. CO-OPERATIVE PRACTICES .]] As a Co-operative , the Group places importance on ethical and transparent trading and reporting, and democratic accountability and participation. Trading areas are overseen by 15-member Area Committees which have annual elections and meetings for all members. These elect members onto regional boards, which also meet annually to report to all members in the region. A national board includes directors elected from regional boards, plus representatives of other societies. Individual stores may have member forums also. In 2004, the traditional "divi" - a dividend for members in the supermarkets - returned to distribute profits from all parts of the business to members. As the UK's largest co-operative, the Group plays a key part in the co-operative movement. It is the biggest subscriber to Co-operatives UK and the Co-operative Party , with members electing representatives on to local Party units. It is also a major sponsor of new co-operative ventures, local initiatives through Co-operative Action and Fairtrade promotion. Co-operative principles 1. Open membership 2. Democratic management 3. Dividend on purchases 4. Limited interest on share capital 5. Cashtrading 6. Political and religious neutrality 7. Allocation from surplus for carrying on educational work MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS The Society has produced an on-line database of all past merges and acquisitions of all co-operative societies in the UK . Members with a share account of a former society can find out which Society it now belongs. 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