The society held its Guernsey annual members meeting yesterday when it revealed the positive results in what it called ‘a year of resilience, growth and community impact, despite global challenges.
Turnover increased by 4.35% to £220.4m., with trading profit rising 6.94% to £7.2m. What the society calls its ‘net surplus’ – the profit reinvested into the business – grew to £1m., reflecting a significant improvement in overall performance. £10.5m. was returned directly to members through savings, dividends and interest, which the society said added up to 4.66p per £1 spent.
‘This has been a challenging year for both islanders and retailers, but we have stayed focused on what matters most, delivering real value to our members,’ said CEO Mark Cox.
‘While cost of living pressures remain a challenge across both the islands, the society has taken deliberate action to support members through everyday pricing and targeted savings. We have strengthened our performance, invested in pricing, and ensured that more money goes back into members’ pockets every time they shop with us.’
He maintained that member pricing, introduced after the Coop scrapped the annual payment of 4% dividend and cut it to 2% back in 2023, when it recorded a net loss of £1.8m. was very important during a cost-of-living crisis, ‘delivering real savings to members’.
In its first full calendar year to October 2025 this was worth more than £5.2m.
The Coop has steadily improved turnover in recent years, up from £6m. in 2021, but lower last year than in 2023.
It has twice made overall annual losses in the past five years but has recovered in the past two years since it controversially reduced annual dividend payments from 4% to 2% in 2024.
Last year it offered savings of more than £5m. in exclusive member prices instead.
The society also highlighted its community contributions, including £305,000 donated to charities and community groups, 1,455 hours of colleague volunteering, and the redistribution of 124,983 food items through its partnership with the food anti-waste app Olio, equivalent to 89,869 meals for 884 local households.
In aligning pay bands and prioritising frontline roles, the society spent 5.82% more on pay over the year, and donated £166,166 to charities and community groups.
Sitting director Ben Le Huray was re-elected to the Coop board at the annual members’ meeting in Guernsey last night.
The incumbent saw off the challenge of six other candidates, including sitting States members Sally Rochester and David Dorrity to fill the single seat available.
He will now serve a fresh term of three years on the board of the mutual retailer.
The meeting also agreed the proposed 2% dividend payout to members.
However, it needs the agreement of this evening’s Jersey members meeting before the dividend can be claimed later this week.
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