Our Story

Proudly local since day one. The East of England Co-op story.

Where it all Began

In 1861, a group of local people in Colchester had a bold idea: work together, trade fairly and give back to the community. They opened a small shop with a big vision – to make life better for everyone and where every member had an equal share.

Growing Stronger, Together

Over the years, more co-ops popped up across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. One by one, they joined forces - becoming the East of England Co-op you know today. Member owned, community focused and proud of our roots.

Your Co-op in Your Community

Today we run over 200 Food stores, Funeral branches, Travel branches and Petrol Filling stations across the East of England. We also have a Security business and manage an Investment Property Portfolio. From coastal villages to city centres across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, we’re here to provide the best service for our members, customers and communities.

Our Vision:

To be the best at what we do in the East of England

Our Vision: To be the best at what we do in the East of England

Rooted in Community

We invest in local producers through our Sourced Locally initiative. We support community groups and good causes and champion sustainability. The profit we make goes back into making a positive local impact in the region we call home.