The Co-op has launched an unprecedented survey of the public to help decide its future including asking how it shares its profits and whether it should make political donations.
Co-op group chief executive Euan Sutherland has launched the ‘Have Your Say’ poll, in conjunction with YouGov, to help determine what the mutual’s future values should be and how it can improve its goods and services.
The findings of the survey will feed into a wider review of the group which will be revealed in May. The review came after a £1.5bn hole was found in the bank’s finances and the Co-op became shrouded in controversy over allegations regarding former bank chairman Paul Flowers.
The Co-op hopes the review will enable the retailer to help support local communities. The survey will be accompanied by a marketing blitz.
Sutherland said: “We will be asking people up and down the country what they believe The Co-operative should really stand for. This is an unprecedented move for an organisation of the size and the scale of The Co-operative and the results will feed directly into our wider review of strategy and purpose.
“In recent years The Co-operative has lost touch with its customers and members and with the communities in which it operates – we haven’t been listening. As a new management team we are focused on renewing The Co-operative and the UK public will be vital to that process.”
He added: “If we are to successfully serve the communities in which we operate, to become as relevant today as we were in the past, we need to hear directly from the communities and the people we serve. We have seen incredible loyalty from our customers, colleagues and members in recent months – now we want to reward that loyalty.”
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