ISSUE 22 | SEPTEMBER 2019 Let’s talk aboutTHE MAGAZINE FOR CO-OP FOOD COLLEAGUES food Bestin class Our Apprentice of the Year PAGES 10-11 Match made in heaven Perfect pizza and wine pairings PAGES 12-13 ALSO DANCING IN THE AISLES: DIARY OF A FESTIVAL POP-UP SHOP COLLEAGUE PAGES 16–17 2 | Issue 22 | September 2019 [email protected] [email protected] Issue 22 | September 2019 | 3 Welcome to September’s issue Because a throwaway David of Let’s Talk About Food Dopson culture is just rubbish It’s hard to believe that I’ve been working on Let’s Talk About Food Co-op service: since its creation in 2016. Boy, has it changed since then! 19 years Current role: n pages 6-7, you’ll read Trevor Rigley about the amazing Look out Internal about our three-year experiences he’s had helping out at for the next Communications Reducing community plan, this year’s festivals. Read his colourful issue to see if and recycling The story so far: Co-operate 2022, where story on pages 16-17. As well as yours is featured. plastic is we’ll be aiming to save, festivals, take a look at the many I hope you get as much important to us improve and protect 2,000 spaces other ways we’re innovating to reach enjoyment out of reading 2016 Othat matter to our local communities. customers in our Clicks and Mortar the mag as I did helping to because we care It makes me incredibly proud to read article on pages 21-21. create it for you. about the world about the great work we’re doing Lastly, our Being Co-op stories are we share. Co-op bags with Steel Warriors to take confiscated so heart-warming to read. Find them Dave We move all our sliced for life We change knives off the streets and turn them into on pages 22-23 and please keep your David Dopson e’re committed cooked meat trays to are all made of labelling guidance, free-to-use outdoor gyms. amazing suggestions coming into us at Content Producer, to reducing our one material, making recycled plastic so more packaging We chatted to our guest editor [email protected]. Internal Communications use of plastic and, them easy to recycle can be recycled where we do use it, we want to make it easily recyclable or reusable. This includes Dave and Introducing our first Trevor Weverything from packaging and plastic 2017 working on guest editor, Trevor Rigley items to the plastic you may not even this issue realise is in certain products. ow, what an honour and privilege We make all our pizza discs from cardboard, it is to be the first guest editor of We don’t have all the answers just saving 200 tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic per year Let’s Talk About Food! Looking through yet but we’ve made a lot of progress. the magazine, it really showcases In 2017, we said we wanted to make everything that is great about our Co-op. all of our packaging easy to recycle. We all know a place in our communities that would Since then, we’ve moved from 2018 Wbenefit from the work we’re doing on Co-operate 2022 as to you’ll see on pages 6-7. I love our Irresistible pizza range 46% 72.34% and now I’ll know what wine to pair with them thanks to the recyclable by product line. We roll out food pairings article on pages 12-13. We’re proud of what we’ve We switch all compostable carrier We remove Our exciting app Offers is a brilliant way to grab a bargain achieved but there’s a long Co-op-branded bags, saving 311 black and dark – not only does it save paper in store, but also appeals to our way to go. water bottles tonnes of plastic unrecyclable plastic digital-savvy customers. The article on pages 18-19 shows the to 50% per year trays from all fresh fruit amazing work we’ve done with MyWork – a real game changer We’re the Co-op and we’re recycled plastic & vegetables in my store that allows the whole team to get involved. different. That’s why we’re not just And lastly, who doesn’t like a good wordsearch? looking at what we can do; we want Get puzzling and happy reading! to inspire change, share ideas and bring retailers and shoppers together. 2019 Trevor If we’re going to get results, we all need Trevor Rigley to be on the same team. Trevor Rigley Store Manager We move bin bag packaging from plastic to paper wraps Co-op service: 4.5 years Store Manager Current role: Let’s Talk About Food is and Festival Crew Member – see produced by the Co-op Internal REDUCING Healthier snacking Almost two thirds of Our dilutable more about my adventures at this Communications team and scarlettabbott – 01904 633399 PLASTIC packs move our ready meal trays drinks and our year’s festivals on pages 16-17. scarlettabbott.co.uk If you spot an opportunity into recyclable are made from widely water are now in Favourite Co-op product: to help reduce our reliance packaging recyclable packaging, 50% recycled Sea Salt and Chardonnay on plastic, let us know by such as clear plastic, plastic bottles Vinegar Crisps emailing letstalkaboutfood@ board or aluminium coop.co.uk 4 | Issue 22 | September 2019 [email protected] [email protected] Issue 22 | September 2019 | 5 IN CONVERSATION In Conversation with Jo is a new feature in which colleagues have the chance to sit down with WITH Food CEO Jo Whitfield to talk about what’s on their mind. In this issue, store managers Dan Lee and Dan McGinley quizzed Jo about her Co-op faves and what’s in the pipeline for Food. Jo Dan Lee bio Store: Manchester, Oxford Road How long have you worked “This year we’ve at the Co-op? 11 years introduced MyWork Q: A NICE EASY ONE TO START: Q: WE’RE STOCKING OUR Q: WE’RE INVESTING IN of using our relationship with alarm and made good Favourite Co-op product: WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE AMAZING PRODUCTS IN NISA NEW TECHNOLOGY ALL and CCTV provider SECOM too. Irresistible Milk Chocolate with CO-OP PRODUCT? SHOPS AND WE’VE HEARD THAT THE TIME, BUT HOW DO We’re also working with local progress in developing Toffee and Himalayan Salt That’s not easy – it’s really hard! SOME SUPERDRUG STORES WILL WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR community groups and charities to colleagues through I’m a great lover of our in-store BE SELLING OUR PRODUCTS TOO. JOBS ARE STILL INTERESTING examine the root causes of crime bakery and especially the Sourdough WHAT’S NEXT? AND INDEPENDENT ENOUGH and see what we can do to help. apprenticeships Olive Bread – there’s at least one of We need to be where our customers TO KEEP AND ATTRACT Campaigning is something we’re and building on them in my house every weekend. want us to be. We can’t afford to put TOP TALENT? passionate about. Huge thanks to a shop in every location, so it’s about This year, we’ve introduced MyWork all the colleagues who shared their talent through Q: I KNOW YOU’RE A learning how we can grow our reach and made good progress in developing stories with the Home Office to drive My Co-op Career.” VEGETARIAN; WHAT’S THE in other ways. colleagues through apprenticeships real change at the top. PLAN TO INCREASE OUR RANGE One of those ways is selling our and building on talent through Jo Whitfield IN THIS GROWING MARKET? delicious, award-winning products in My Co-op Career. I think that’s the kind Q: CONGRATULATIONS ON First of all, I must say that I’ve loved other retailers, including Nisa, Costcutter of investment that will make people WINNING THE VEUVE CLICQUOT the veggie options in our BBQ and Superdrug. This gets those brilliant look at the Co-op and think ‘what a BUSINESS WOMAN AWARD. range this year. products into new customers’ hands and great place to work!’. WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE TO We have to approach this carefully also grows our scale – and that gives us COLLEAGUES WHO ASPIRE TO BE because we’re a convenience retailer the power to negotiate better prices with Q: WE’RE ALL INTERESTED LEADERS IN OUR BUSINESS? Dan McGinley bio and need to cater for several different our suppliers. IN THE SAFER COLLEAGUES, Winning the Veuve Clicquot Business customer missions. We know that SAFER COMMUNITIES PROJECT. Woman Award was an amazing Are you Store: Manchester, vegan and vegetarian is a growing WHAT’S NEXT? achievement but I’m a long way from getting the most Corporation Street trend and we’re in a good place, but “I’m a great lover of The physical safety of colleagues in being the finished article – there’s out of MyWork? there’s more we can do. I’m constantly our in-store bakery and stores is something I worry about all always something new to learn! Discover more on How long have you worked asking our Delicious Food team the time. We’re investing in protecting My advice would be: don’t be afraid pages 18-19 at the Co-op? 10 months about new ranges, and I know they’re especially the Sourdough our colleagues by trialling things like to take on new challenges and push working with suppliers to bring the Olive Bread.” body cameras and our new theft- yourself out of your comfort zone.