Coop (Swiss)

Coop is a co-operative of large distribution, second in Switzerland right behind its direct competitor, Migros. In addition to the retail business, the co-operative also includes/understands a chain of restaurants, the stores of electronics Interdiscount, the pieces of furniture Toptip, perfumeries Import and Coop as well as service stations Coop.

With approximately 47 ' 000 collaborators with his credit, the co-operative is present in more than 1400 sales outlets in Switzerland, and publishes a newspaper which appears in the three national languages. 2003 showed a turnover rising to 15 billion Swiss francs. The Coop co-operative does not have any bond with the German company Co COp and with the Italian consorce Coop Italia .

History

The first co-operative companies of consumption were born at the beginning of the 19th century in England, with the pionners of Rochdale . The idea is then imported into Switzerland by the manufacturer of textile glaronais Jean Jenny in the years 1850. Companies were then founded in many Swiss cities. After two unfruitful attempts in 1853 and 1869, the Swiss Union of the consumer societies is founded in Olten the January 11th 1890. It gathers in particular the companies of Zurich, Granges, Bienne, Olten and Basle, which will be indicated like direct company. With the end of the year, the Union gathers 43 members and will open in 1892 a first wholesale distribution center.

The Union becomes an cooperative society in 1893, within the meaning of the co-operative right present in the first federal Code of the obligations of 1883. It publishes its first news bulletin for the affiliated companies, follow-up of a popular newspaper named " Coopération" in 1904. In 1915, the Union gathers 407 cooperative society. As of the end of the Second world war, the Union still takes importance and opens a first store in self-service in Zurich in 1948 - ten years later, the Union will count some more than 3200, for 572 members, quantifies ever exceeded.

The Années 1960 are animated: the Union launches out in televised publicity, but its turnover is détrôné by that of the co-operatives Migros in 1967. In 1969, the Swiss Union of the consumer societies becomes COOP Suisse and makes a foreground of fusion having for objective to reduce the number of the co-operatives to 30-40 from here 1975. In 1979 will count 67 more and will launch a second plan of fusion of them to reach 40 co-operatives in 1983.

Coop acquires of Radio TV Steiner S.A. in 1980 and repurchases the network of the Swiss Hypermarché S of Carrefour in 2007.

Today, Coop forms nothing any more but only one national co-operative, subdivided in four major areas. All the administration and logistics were centralized in Basle, with the seat of the co-operative.

Main competitors

See too

Related articles

External bond

  • Official site of Coop

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