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Community backing is not treated as an activity separate from commercial performance. Instead, Scotmid presents it as part of its purpose. During the latest reporting period, the society donated more than £ 537,000 to charities and good causes, supporting over 1000 projects, while partnerships with organizations including Maggie’ s, RNLI, and Alzheimer Scotland expanded its reach into communities across the country.
Karen has also spoken publicly about the connection between trading activity and community impact. In comments reported by Co-operative News, she observed,“ From our charity partnerships with RNLI and Maggie’ s to our Winter Giving campaign, Community Connect initiative, and donations to charities like Erskine and the Jamieson Spatial Laboratory, Scotmid continues to seek out ways to improve people’ s everyday lives, all year round.”
Community value, in Scotmid’ s view, extends beyond the organizations it supports and into the products it sells. Through Scottish Favourites, the co-op has helped emerging food and drink producers secure listings across its stores, giving local brands greater visibility while strengthening connections between Scottish suppliers and consumers.
Following the cyber incident that affected the Co-op Group, one of Scotmid’ s key suppliers, the disruption created challenges around stock availability and retail operations. During this period, Scotmid maintained expenditure while working through operational pressures, demonstrating a consistent approach to both customers and staff.
Investing for the future
Looking back at the latest annual results, Karen noted,“ These are resilient results and a real testament to the commitment and effort of colleagues across the society.”
That nod to colleagues matters because many of Scotmid’ s priorities depend on execution at store level. Funding for technology, prepared food business, local supplier programs, and member engagement all require participation across the organization. Leadership therefore becomes as much about alignment as strategy.
The acquisition of Fosters Funeral Directors in 2024 demonstrated another aspect of that approach. The deal expanded Scotmid’ s funeral portfolio to more than 40 locations, strengthening an established division while broadening the society’ s footprint beyond retail.
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