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Associate Parliamentary Food & Health Forum-Autumn Conference onThe Ethics of Food Policy

Debbie RobinsonDirector of Food Retail Marketing

21 November 2007

Rochdale Pioneers - 1844

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Founding principles

• Open and voluntary membership• Democratic control (one member, one vote)• Fixed and limited interest on share capital• A surplus allocated in proportion to members’ purchases

(the dividend)• Provision for education• Co-operation amongst co-operatives• Political and religious neutrality• No credit• Quality goods and services

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Social goals

Social goals

Commercial success

Competitive advantage

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Shopping with Attitude

Fourteen years ago the Co-op conducted the biggest ever study of consumer attitudes to the ethics of the food industry*

It showed that consumers were hungry for good food: not food that just looked and tasted nice, but food they could trust, made without cruelty to animals, damage to the environment and exploitation of growers in developing countries.

*Surveyed by Gallup – 30,000 consumers & members & 1000 general pubic

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Shopping with Attitude

In 2004, the Co-op published its 2nd major study of consumer attitudes to the ethics of food production and marketing. Conducted by NOP, 30,000 people responded.

• This shows that:• Eight in ten consumers don’t trust the food they buy**• They care more, worry more and want to know more about

what’s behind the products on the shelf• They are more willing to pay extra for their ethics• They are prepared to boycott the products and companies

which they don’t approve of.

**Surveyed by NOP – 28,500 consumers & members & 1,000 general public8.

Shopping with Attitude

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Responsible Retailing

Six areas of consumer concern were identified:1. The Whole Truth: telling the truth on a product label, so

consumers can make an informed decision about whether or not to buy it

2. Food Integrity: providing products which are formulated, manufactured and marketed in a way consumers can trust

3. Animal Welfare and Animal Testing: improving standards of care for animals and banning animal testing

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Responsible Retailing

4. Globalisation & Poverty Reduction: ensuring a fair deal for growers in developing countries

5. Environment & Sustainability: seeking new ways of minimising the impact of industry on the environment

6. Local Communities: working to support and sustain local communities

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The Whole Truth

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10 years ago

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The Whole Truth

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The Whole Truth

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• The Co-op is committed to providing honest food which customers, and their families, can trust to take account of all known and relevant concerns about food ingredients, formulations, and production techniques

• Avoiding artificial colours • Non-GM (genetically modified)• Salt and fat reduction• Ingredients you can trust• Trans-fats

Food Integrity

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Food integrity

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Food integrity

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Food integrity

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Food integrity

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Food integrity

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Food integrity

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Food integrity

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• The Co-op is committed to ensuring a better life for millions of animals by actively working with the key agencies, in developing and supporting ground breaking initiatives, to cut out abuse and deliver better standards of welfare

• Freedom Foods development with RSPCA

• Progressive development of non-caged eggs

• No antibiotic growth promoters

• No animal testing on health & beauty and household products

Animal Welfare and Animal Testing

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BUAV Approved

Animal Testing

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Animal Welfare

Leading the way in Farm Animal Welfare

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Animal Welfare

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The Co-op is actively opposed to the unscrupulous exploitation of workers and communities across the world and will work tirelessly with the appropriate agencies to deliver a better standard of life for those engaged in the production of Co-op Brand products.

Globalisation and Poverty Reduction

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Fairtrade Range

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Largest Fairtrade Project in the World - South Africa

• Tim Atkin – Observer Magazine ‘It’s a shining example of how a Fairtrade project should work in a large, impoverished community’.

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Environment and Sustainability

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Degradable carrier bags

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Degradable bread bags

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The world’s lightest 70cl spirits bottle

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September 2007

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FSC – instore communication

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Water for water

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Fairtrade bag for life

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UK’s first Fairtrade grapefruit

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BBC’s Money Programme branded the Co-op the greenest retailer on the High Street – June 2007

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The GfK NOP Ethics Brands Survey was conducted in US, UK, France, Germany and Spain covering a total of 5,000 respondents between January and February 2007

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Food Ethical Policy

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Food Ethical Policy

• Food quality, diet and health

• Environmental impact

• Ethical trading

• Community retailing

• Animal welfare

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Thank You