April 15, 2014 10.30 am This story is over 128 months old

Sales grow at Lincolnshire Co-op food stores

Positive results so far: Sales grew by 2.2% at Lincolnshire Co-op food stores for the first half of the society’s financial year.
A shelf of Love Local products at at Lincolnshire Co-op food store.

Sales grew by 2.2% at Lincolnshire Co-op food stores for the first half of the society’s financial year.

Demand for bread and cakes made by Lincolnshire Co-op’s own bakers Gadsby’s, based in Southwell, rose by 8% in food stores.

Sales of local meat, produced by the society’s own butchery in Lincoln, went up by 7%, and sales of the Love Local range, featuring a different products from around the trading area, rose by 11%.

Total sales this half year were £142.6 million, a rise of 1.3% compared to the same period in the last financial year.

Group trading surplus (after member benefits and pension contributions) was £8.9 million, up from £8.5 million in the same period of the last trading year.

Currently, the society’s net assets stand at £271 million.

Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Co-op Ursula Lidbetter said: “We’re pleased to be able to report a positive trading result in continuing difficult trading conditions.

“It’s down to the hard work and dedication of our 2,700 staff and the support of our 230,000 members. My thanks go to all of them.”

The team at the Lincolnshire Co-op Boston Travel branch, which joined the business in 2013. (L-R): Ashley Cilek, Zane Ground, Jodie Limb and Lizzie Brackenbury.

The team at the Lincolnshire Co-op Boston Travel branch, which joined the business in 2013. (L-R): Ashley Cilek, Zane Ground, Jodie Limb and Lizzie Brackenbury.

In travel, sales increased by 27%, thanks to strong performances from existing agencies and new outlets in Boston, Grantham and Market Rasen.

Lincolnshire Co-op runs 48 pharmacies across the trading area and income from them increased by 3.2%.

The branches dispensed approximately 2.5m prescriptions and carried out over 4,100 medicine use reviews, which check customers are taking their medication correctly.

Lincolnshire Co-op's South Lincolnshire Crematorium in Surfleet.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s South Lincolnshire Crematorium in Surfleet.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s funeral services developments this half year include the opening of South Lincolnshire Crematorium in Surfleet.

Work also started on a new purpose-built funeral home in Tritton Road in Lincoln.

Investment in new services included the opening of Crowle Food Store and a £3 million refurbishment of Parkside Medical Centre in Boston.