Using different co-op membership cards in different Co-op food stores
640 words, approx 3 mins to read.
A co-operative is owned by its members and other co-operatives, not investors like a traditional business. Members can have a say in how a co-operative runs and members receive a share of the profits (a dividend, or divi) when the co-operative turns a profit, as well as other rewards and offers.
When shopping in co-operative food stores, you can use different co-operative membership cards. But, you’ll receive different rewards in different co-operative food stores. You can be a member of more than one co-op at once.
There are two types of co-operative food store:
- Co-op Group stores
- Independent co-operative stores
Find out if your local co-operative is part of the Co-op Group. If the store belongs to an independent co-operative, it will be listed on the store page.
There are two types of co-operative membership card:
- Blue card
- Honeycomb card
If you have a blue card, you’re a member of our Co-op, the Co-op Group.
If you have a honeycomb card, you could be a member of our Co-op or an independent co-operative. If your card says The Co-operative Group on it, you’re part of our Co-op. You can update it to a blue card by requesting a replacement card on your online Co-op Membership account.
If your honeycomb card says something else, you’re a member of one of these independent co-operatives:
- Southern Co-operative
- Central England Co-operative
- Midcounties Co-operative
- Chelmsford Star Co-operative
Can I use my independent co-operative membership card in Co-op Group stores?
Yes. If you’re a member of one of the independent co-operatives listed above you can use your membership card in Co-op Group stores.
What about the 5% and 1% reward?
To earn 5% back for you and 1% back for your community when you buy Co-op products in Co-op Group stores, you’ll need to join our Co-op.
What about having a say in how a co-operative runs?
To earn democratic points (enabling you to vote and have a say in how a co-operative runs) you need to use the respective membership card in the respective food store. E.g. Your blue Co-op Group card in a Co-op Group store.
Can I use my blue membership card in independent co-operative food stores?
Yes. As a Co-op Group member, you can use your blue card in the independent co-operatives listed above.
You earn dividend (divi) points when shopping at the independent co-operative food stores listed above. You receive a divi if the independent co-operative society pays a divi that year.
What about the 5% and 1% reward?
You won’t earn 5% back for you and 1% back for your community when you buy Co-op products in independent co-operative stores. You only earn the 5% and 1% when using your card in Co-op Group stores.
What about having a say in how a co-operative runs?
To earn democratic points (enabling you to vote and have a say in how a co-operative runs) you need to use the respective membership card in the respective food store.
I belong to another independent co-operative, not listed above
Some other independent co-operatives use The Co-operative branding on stores, but have their own membership scheme.
You cannot use a Co-op Group blue card in their stores or use their card in our stores. Some of these independent co-operative societies are:
- Heart of England Co-operative
- Radstock Co-operative
- Tamworth Co-operative
- Lincolnshire Co-op
- East of England Co-op
- Scotmid Co-operative
- Lakes and Dales Co-operative
- The Channel Islands Co-operative Society
What about student discount?
You can only get student discount with a valid NUS extra card at Co-op Group, Midcounties and Southern Co-operative food stores.
Adam Taylor
Co-operative Young Members’ Board
I joined the East Lothian Co op in February 1981 and my number was 391.
I now live in England. Can I use these details
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now that coop have taken over Nisa is there plans to allow the use of the coop blue membership card in those too?
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No plans as of yet. We haven’t taken over Nisa, they stock some Co-op branded products ^Siobhan
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I have points on my blue card from coop highbridge which has recently closed,where can I spend them
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Hi Anne, can you contact customer services and we’ll help: https://www.co-operativefood.co.uk/contact-us/ ^Siobhan
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Hello my membership card was stolen whilst on holiday in May and I have just applied for a replacement. However the vouchers I have received have the old number written on them – will they still be valid with my new card? The name is the same. Thank you
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Hi Geoff, whilst you can use a Midcounties Co-operative Membership Card in our stores, you won’t earn 5% back for you or 1% back for your community. A Co-op Membership Card (our blue one) will earn you 5% and 1% though, here’s more information: https://coop.uk/2RcsdTc ^Jordan
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Confused – I have a Midcounties Co Op card which I use in my local store but when I check my account it does not show any transactions?
Would it be better to just get a Blue co op card?
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Hi Elaine,
You can spend your rewards at anytime by choosing to pay with your Membership Card instead of cash/debit card. Just tell the cashier that you’d like to use your rewards and they will put that through for you. If you’re using a self-service till then just choose “pay with Membership rewards” once you’ve put your products through.
Thanks ^Gem
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I have accrued £196 45 on membership rewards without realising that. How can I claim these rewards
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Hi Elaine, if this is the 5% that you earn you can spend this on Co-op products and Services, find out more about this here – https://www.coop.co.uk/membership/member-benefits If you have any questions the Membership team will be able to help, you can contact them on 0800 023 4708 or membershipcontactus@coop.co.uk ^Catherine
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Hi Noel, please give us a call on 0800 0686 727 and we’ll advise you ^Siobhan
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I have (according to an email from the co op) 130 pounds in my acount. This from cash purchase of funerals.
I also have 50 pounds in vouchers from my co op car insurance.
My problem is where can i use the benefits?
I live in Coleshill North warwickshire on Birmingham border.
Any help would be appreciated.
Also just tried to buy a microwave from co op online but had to use a debit card jnsread of above benefit.
Noel Fennell
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How can I add points to my membership card when I do not have it at time of purchase?
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Hi Calice, you can do this on your online membership account or pop in store. ^Siobhan
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If you tell the cashier when you attend the til that you have forgotten your card, she/he can issue a receipt that has a barcode which has to be kept to either add the points back online or take it next time you go to the co-op with the members card and they’ll scan it with your card and pop the points back on.
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Do you have to ask for your vouchers or are they sent autamatically at the end of the month?
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Hi there, you’ll need to apply for this card http://coop.uk/2HolaCK if you have Co-operative Energy. Thanks, ^Scott
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Is there any benefit to having either card (blue of honeycomb) if you have Co-operative Energy? or is that totally unrelated?
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[…] Using different co-op membership cards in different Co-op food stores […]
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as a co-op pensioner can I use my annual gift vouches when buying electicals
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Hi Ernest. In Co-op Food stores which stock electrical goods – yes. On the Co-op Electrical website, I’m afraid not. ^Ian
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Thanks Adam, for a very clear explanation of an issue that confuses many co-op shoppers.
You could have added that the Co-op Group is the only one, of those listed, that isn’t member controlled!!
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Hi Barbara, you can only use the Young Scot card in Scotland, more detail can be found here http://coop.uk/2zpbPcw Thanks ^Scott
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Thanks Mike and Scott for further explanations – this all helps me pass good info on to members too.
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Adam that is a great explanation. What a good idea to get it all in a blog.
The bit about using a Coop group card in an independent coop, but not getting divi unless you use your independent coop card there, is a minefield, I had to read it several times to understand……thank goodness it hardly affects me up here in Scotland.
However – we do have the Young Scot card !!!!
And holders get discount in Coop Group AND Scotmid stores ! Do they get discount in Coop Group stores in other parts of the UK though, or only Scotland ? And what about in Scotmid stores in England ?(Lakes and Dales)
…and then I could ask you all the same questions again for the funeral businesses and Coop electrical, etc ….
sounds like a full time job for someone sorting this all out 🙂
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Hi Barbara, thanks for the feedback. We’ll look at whether we can create something similar related to other Co-op Group businesses that share a brand or facia with an independent co-operative society. ^Jordan
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*fascia.
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Thanks for swift response there Jordan. Can you dig a little on the Young Scot card discounts too please ? thanks !
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Hi Barbara.
Just wanted to clarify that you can use your Co-op Group card in an independent Co-op and will earn the same dividend that a member of that independent would earn.
E.g. Co-op Group card in a Southern Co-op would earn a dividend at Southern Co-op’s pay-out rate.
This information is passed to Co-op Group, who then send the dividend reward to you as vouchers or via a nominated bank account if you have set this up with Co-op Group.
This mechanism is the same if you are a member of another independent society shopping in a different independent society store.
E.g. Midcounties Co-op card in a Southern Co-op would earn a dividend at Southern Co-op’s pay-out rate.
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Just wanted to add when I talk of independents I mean those that are part of the Co-operative Food branding (Midcounties, Central England, Southern Co-op and Chelmsford Star)
and not the other local named independents E.g. ScotMid, Channel Islands, Radford etc.
However, the above independents wouldn’t even accept your membership card so that shouldn’t lead to any issues.
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