Northern Co-operative Society: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Former retail co-operative in Scotland}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}} |
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{{Use British English|date=September 2015}} |
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}} |
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|title=NORCO - Records of the Northern Co-operative Society |
|title=NORCO - Records of the Northern Co-operative Society |
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|publisher=Aberdeen City Archives |
|publisher=Aberdeen City Archives |
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}}</ref><ref name="guardian">{{Cite news |
}}{{dead link|date=July 2016}}</ref><ref name="guardian">{{Cite news |
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|url=http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2003&res_dat=xri:pqil:res_ver=0.2&res_id=xri:newsuk&rft_id=xri:newsuk:newsart:69381430 |
|url=http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2003&res_dat=xri:pqil:res_ver=0.2&res_id=xri:newsuk&rft_id=xri:newsuk:newsart:69381430 |
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|title=Scottish co-op calls in receiver |
|title=Scottish co-op calls in receiver |
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|work=[[The Guardian]] |
|work=[[The Guardian]] |
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|publisher=via Proquest News UK |
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|date=18 June 1993 |
|date=18 June 1993 |
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|author=Seumas Milne |
|author=Seumas Milne |
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|accessdate=4 July 2008 |
|accessdate=4 July 2008 |
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|via=ProQuest |
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}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
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It operated supermarkets and other businesses throughout Aberdeenshire, and employed 2000 people in 1992. |
It operated supermarkets and other businesses throughout Aberdeenshire, and employed 2000 people in 1992. |
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|date=12 September 2000 |
|date=12 September 2000 |
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|publisher=UK Business Park |
|publisher=UK Business Park |
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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |
}}</ref><ref> |
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{{Cite web |
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|url=http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/acc_data/committee%20reports/cs_res_r2l_030923.pdf |
|url=http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/acc_data/committee%20reports/cs_res_r2l_030923.pdf |
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|title=Retail Study Report |
|title=Retail Study Report |
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|pages=5 |
|pages=5 |
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|author=Bob Reid |
|author=Bob Reid |
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|access-date=8 July 2008 |
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⚫ | |||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040430194015/http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/acc_data/committee%20reports/cs_res_r2l_030923.pdf |
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|archive-date=30 April 2004 |
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|url-status=dead |
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|df=dmy-all |
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}} |
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⚫ | |||
Norco was formed in 1861 as Northern Co-operative Company, by two committees of Aberdeen residents who planned to follow the example of the [[Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society]].<ref name="archive" /> |
Norco was formed in 1861 as Northern Co-operative Company, by two committees of Aberdeen residents who planned to follow the example of the [[Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society]].<ref name="archive" /> |
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The first shop was a grocery business at 51 Gallowgate, opened in July that year.<ref name="archive" /> The original company had a fixed capital of £1000, but in 1917, it converted into Northern Co-operative Society.<ref name="archive" /> |
The first shop was a grocery business at 51 Gallowgate, opened in July that year.<ref name="archive" /> The original company had a fixed capital of £1000, but in 1917, it converted into Northern Co-operative Society.<ref name="archive" /> |
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In April 1992, Norco declared a loss of £7 million, and the chief executive, Robin Pollock, resigned.<ref name="archive" /><ref name="press2000" /> |
In April 1992, Norco declared a loss of £7 million, and the chief executive, Robin Pollock, resigned.<ref name="archive" /><ref name="press2000" /> |
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Emergency measures included a massive sell-off of businesses, and a pay freeze.<ref name="archive" /> |
Emergency measures included a massive sell-off of businesses, and a pay freeze.<ref name="archive" /> |
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Kennerty Dairies (since bought by [[Robert Wiseman Dairies]]) bought Norco's Berryden dairy, and [[Argyll Group]] bought supermarkets in [[Banchory]], [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]], [[Ellon, Aberdeenshire|Ellon]] and [[Westhill, Aberdeenshire|Westhill]].<ref name="press2000" /> |
Kennerty Dairies (since bought by [[Robert Wiseman Dairies]]) bought Norco's Berryden dairy, and [[Argyll Foods|Argyll Group]] bought supermarkets in [[Banchory]], [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]], [[Ellon, Aberdeenshire|Ellon]] and [[Westhill, Aberdeenshire|Westhill]].<ref name="press2000" /> |
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Finally, in 1993, Norco approached Scottish Co-op with a view to a rescue merger, but the latter organization declined the request.<ref name="archive" /><ref name="guardian" /> |
Finally, in 1993, Norco approached Scottish Co-op with a view to a rescue merger, but the latter organization declined the request.<ref name="archive" /><ref name="guardian" /> |
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It employed 2000 people in 1992, when the financial problems became apparent, and on going into receivership in June 1993, it had 800 employees.<ref name="guardian" /> |
It employed 2000 people in 1992, when the financial problems became apparent, and on going into receivership in June 1993, it had 800 employees.<ref name="guardian" /> |
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Its trading area included the Aberdeenshire and [[Moray]] towns of [[Banchory]], [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]], [[Ellon, Aberdeenshire|Ellon]], [[Kemnay]], [[Inverurie]], [[Port Elphinstone]] and [[Westhill, Aberdeenshire|Westhill]].<ref name="archive" /><ref name="press2000" /> |
Its trading area included the Aberdeenshire and [[Moray]] towns of [[Banchory]], [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]], [[Ellon, Aberdeenshire|Ellon]], [[Kemnay, Aberdeenshire|Kemnay]], [[Inverurie]], [[Port Elphinstone]] and [[Westhill, Aberdeenshire|Westhill]].<ref name="archive" /><ref name="press2000" /> |
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At its peak it had branches and departments throughout the city of Aberdeen.<ref name="archive" /> |
At its peak it had branches and departments throughout the city of Aberdeen.<ref name="archive" /> |
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Since the demise of Norco, the tradition of consumer co-operation in Aberdeenshire has been continued or revived by three southern organizations: [[Scotmid Co-operative]], [[Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-operative Society|Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-operative]] and Scottish Co-op (a retail division of CWS, now [[the Co-operative Group]].) |
Since the demise of Norco, the tradition of consumer co-operation in Aberdeenshire has been continued or revived by three southern organizations: [[Scotmid Co-operative]], [[Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-operative Society|Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-operative]] and Scottish Co-op (a retail division of CWS, now [[the Co-operative Group]].) |
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[[Category:Defunct companies of Scotland]] |
[[Category:Defunct companies of Scotland]] |
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[[Category:Defunct retail companies of the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:Defunct retail companies of the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1861]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Retail companies disestablished in 1993]] |
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[[Category:Consumers' co-operatives of the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:Consumers' co-operatives of the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Defunct department stores of the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:Defunct department stores of the United Kingdom]] |
Latest revision as of 11:50, 27 April 2023
Northern Co-operative Society Limited (abbreviated to Norco), previously named Northern Co-operative Company Limited, was a local consumer co-operative trading in Aberdeen, Scotland, from 1861 to 1993.[1][2] It operated supermarkets and other businesses throughout Aberdeenshire, and employed 2000 people in 1992.
It was put into the hands of a receiver for liquidation in 1993, as a result of financial difficulties that The Guardian newspaper attributed to "an over-ambitious building and development programme" and failed attempts to dispose of the entire business as a going concern, despite the successful sale of its dairy, five pharmacies, and then several supermarkets to Argyll Stores and the Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS).[1][2]
History
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Sainsburys_Berryden_Superstore_Aberdeen_by_Stanley_Howe.jpg/250px-Sainsburys_Berryden_Superstore_Aberdeen_by_Stanley_Howe.jpg)
Norco was formed in 1861 as Northern Co-operative Company, by two committees of Aberdeen residents who planned to follow the example of the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society.[1] The first shop was a grocery business at 51 Gallowgate, opened in July that year.[1] The original company had a fixed capital of £1000, but in 1917, it converted into Northern Co-operative Society.[1]
The Society's headquarters were in a large building on Loch Street, which contained the company's offices as well as an arcade-style shopping area. It was described in 2000 as "like Convent Garden (sic) – a delightful, quaint area at the centre of the city where people could stroll" by Connie Leith, head of the Ferryhill Heritage Society.[6]
Norco House, a large department store which replaced the Loch Street building, was opened in George Street in 1970, less than 100 feet from the original building.[1] The trading name of Norco was soon adopted by the entire co-operative.[1] The "space-age" four storey Norco House department store was later bought, refurbished and operated by the John Lewis employee-owned chain.[6] The old Loch Street building remained empty and slowly deteriorated until its eventual demolition in 1986.
In 1977, Norco opened a 54,000 square feet (5,000 m2) flagship superstore in the Berryden district of Aberdeen.[1][3][7] The Berryden store was sold to the Scottish Co-op in 1993 immediately before the receivership, and operated by that co-operative for seven years.[1][7][8]
In April 1992, Norco declared a loss of £7 million, and the chief executive, Robin Pollock, resigned.[1][7] Emergency measures included a massive sell-off of businesses, and a pay freeze.[1] Kennerty Dairies (since bought by Robert Wiseman Dairies) bought Norco's Berryden dairy, and Argyll Group bought supermarkets in Banchory, Elgin, Ellon and Westhill.[7] Finally, in 1993, Norco approached Scottish Co-op with a view to a rescue merger, but the latter organization declined the request.[1][2]
Operations and co-operative movement
[edit]Norco was previously noted as the only large consumer co-operative in the UK not to be a member of the Scottish or English Co-operative Wholesale Societies.
It employed 2000 people in 1992, when the financial problems became apparent, and on going into receivership in June 1993, it had 800 employees.[2]
Its trading area included the Aberdeenshire and Moray towns of Banchory, Elgin, Ellon, Kemnay, Inverurie, Port Elphinstone and Westhill.[1][7] At its peak it had branches and departments throughout the city of Aberdeen.[1] Since the demise of Norco, the tradition of consumer co-operation in Aberdeenshire has been continued or revived by three southern organizations: Scotmid Co-operative, Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-operative and Scottish Co-op (a retail division of CWS, now the Co-operative Group.)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "NORCO - Records of the Northern Co-operative Society". Aberdeen City Archives.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d Seumas Milne (18 June 1993). "Scottish co-op calls in receiver". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 July 2008 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b "MORE CWS SUPERSTORES SOLD". The Grocer. via Find Articles at BNET. 16 September 2000.
Sainsbury has purchased the 53,600sq ft store at Berryden,Aberdeen
- ^ "retailing UK News 2000". UK Business Park. 12 September 2000.
- ^
Bob Reid (23 September 2003). "Retail Study Report" (PDF). Aberdeen City Council Resources Management Committee. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2004. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
Sainsbury's have taken over the Scottish Co-op superstore at Berryden
- ^ a b David Ewen (24 June 2000). "PULL THEM ALL DOWN: Heritage chief blasts the city's 60s eyesores". Aberdeen Press and Journal. NewsBank via Europe Intelligence Wire.
- ^ a b c d e Tim Pauling and Alastair McNeill (27 June 2000). "Co-op's shock sell-off threatens 200 city jobs". Aberdeen Press and Journal. NewsBank via Europe Intelligence Wire. p. 6. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
- ^ In 1993, Scottish Co-op was a retail division of the Co-operative Wholesale Society, from 2001 the Co-operative Group.
- Companies based in Aberdeen
- History of Aberdeen
- Aberdeenshire
- Former co-operatives of the United Kingdom
- Defunct companies of Scotland
- Defunct retail companies of the United Kingdom
- Retail companies established in 1861
- Retail companies disestablished in 1993
- Consumers' co-operatives of the United Kingdom
- Defunct department stores of the United Kingdom
- 1861 establishments in Scotland
- Co-operatives in Scotland