Co-operative Wholesale Society

The Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) was a large UK-based cooperative that operated as a business owned and run by its members, typically other cooperatives and retailers. It supplied goods like groceries, appliances, and other products to its member cooperatives, helping them serve local communities. The CWS aimed to promote fair trading, fair prices, and ethical business practices, emphasizing mutual benefit over profit. Over time, it evolved into part of the Co-operative Group, supporting cooperative principles such as democratic control, social responsibility, and community development across the UK.