The Boards of Scotmid Co-operative and Seaton Valley Co-operative have met with a view to merging the two Societies later this year. Executive teams from both Societies will work together to draw up a timetable and plans for a potential merger.
At this very early stage, there will be no further comment from either Society.
Scotmid Co-operative is Scotland’s largest independent co-operative Society and has been at the heart of local communities since 1859. The Society employs around 4700 staff in 350 retail and service outlets across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England. This includes Scotmid Food, Semichem, funeral branches, Post Offices and a property division. The Society is owned, managed and governed in Scotland and as a co-operative is democratically controlled by its members.
Further information on Scotmid can be found at; www.scotmid.coop; www.facebook.com/Scotmid and on Twitter @scotmid.
Seaton Valley Co-operative has been at the heart of the local community since 1864. The Society employs around 100 staff in five retail outlets and a Post Office in the south east of Northumberland. The Society, which has its Head Office in Seaton Delaval, is democratically controlled by its members.
Further information on Seaton Valley can be found at www.seatonvalley.coop