Lincolnshire Co-op saw a dip in overall sales and profit in the first six months of the new financial year, despite a rise in sales at food stores and travel branches.
The half-year recordings, which ran between September last year and March 2013, saw like-for-like sales up 1%, with total sales £140.7 million, and group trading surplus was £8.5 million.
Compared to the same period last year, Lincolnshire Co-op has seen a fall in profits from £9.13 million to £8.2 million.
In overall sales within the Society, sales dipped by 0.8%, due to Holland Brothers Jaguar on Outer Circle Road, being taken up by Marshalls, meaning the Co-op no longer benefits from each sale.
Despite the small dip, Lincolnshire Co-op’s Chief Executive Ursula Lidbetter is positive about the figures.
She said: “Times are tough for any retailer and we’ve worked very hard to maintain a good performance in these challenging times.
“We have also felt the impact of rising pension costs this half-year, plus more significant cuts in the price we are paid for dispensing prescriptions and the numerous services our post offices provide.
“With all that to contend with, we are still profitable and have seen some strong performances in areas like travel, food and pharmacy.
“What sets us apart is our local approach. People know that when they spend their hard-earned money with Lincolnshire Co-op it will come back to them as dividend, go to local contractors, suppliers and producers, our 2,700 local staff, or in the case of the Community Champions pot, will go towards a good cause making a real difference in their area.”
Travel saw a large rise of 11.3% within the company’s 12 branches, partly due to full ABTA bonding and ATOL accreditation.
The Co-op’s food sector went up 2.4%, with the help of three new county store openings and six new Love Local products going on sale, such as Lymn Bank cracked black pepper cheese and St Botolph’s Pure Apple Juice.
Sales of the whole Love Local range has risen by 9%, with the Co-op’s bakers, Gadsby’s rising 17%.
Co-op pharmacy saw a rise in prescriptions issued at 2.25%. Some pharmacies are currently undergoing transformations to become “Healthy Living” pharmacies, to help both GPs and teach communities about living a good lifestyle.
Due to the fair sales of the past six months, the 2,700 Co-op Society staff received 70% of a weekly wage, which can be spent in a Co-op store.
Spotted an error? Please notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
A local man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving after two pedestrians were injured in a collision with a car and three parked vehicles in Skegness.
Lincolnshire Police officers attended the scene after the collision between a blue Citroen Berlingo, the parked vehicles, and a man and a woman, who are both in their 60s, on Winthorpe Avenue shortly before 7pm on Friday, April 16.
The two pedestrians suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital. However, their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
A 63-year-old local man, who was driving the Berlingo, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving. He has since been released under investigation.
Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage and anyone with information should contact them on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting incident number 389 of April 16.
Few people attended the second Kill the Bill protest in Lincoln on Saturday, as Extinction Rebellion activists stood alone on the High Street to campaign against a proposed policing bill that could make many protests illegal.
Activists from Extinction Rebellion Lincolnshire gathered at Speakers’ Corner to oppose plans for the latest Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which could curtail protesting rights if passed through parliament.
Extinction Rebellion were the main representatives at the protest. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Under the proposed bill, police officers will be given greater powers to put a stop to any protests, as well as determining start and finish times for them, and controlling noise levels.
A few stopped to talk with the protestors, but most just went about their day walking down Lincoln High Street in the first weekend that non-essential shops and beer gardens reopened.
The Lincolnite spoke to one of the rebels at the protest, to find out the reasons behind the march.
They said: “This draconian bill cannot go ahead, it needs to be taken apart and re-evaluted completely.
“People have been walking past us shaking their heads, but they don’t realise that it’s their freedom we are fighting for.”
The Lincolnite photographer Steve Smailes captured some pictures from the protest.
Signs were put up by the works at Speakers’ Corner on Lincoln High Street. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A 19-year-old man is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash on the A52 on Friday evening.
The single-vehicle crash, involving a white Suzuki Splash, happened in the westbound lane of the A52 between Barrowby and Sedgebrook at around 7.20pm on Friday, April 16.
The driver of the car is now in hospital after suffering serious injuries, and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Officers believe the driver had travelled from Grantham on the A52 at Barrowby before the crash.
Anyone who has dashcam footage or saw the vehicle before the incident is being asked to call 101, quoting incident 420 of April 16.
Alternatively, you can email [email protected], using the same reference in the subject box.
Whatsapp
