Anglia Regional Co-operative Society

Anglia Regional
Co-operative Society Limited

Former type	Consumer Co-operative
Industry	Retail (Wholesale)
Fate	Merged with Midlands Co-operative Society
Successor	Central England Co-operative
Founded	1876 (Incorporated 1887)
Defunct	2013
Headquarters	Burch House, Saville Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE3 7PR
Key people	Harry Whitelock, Chairman John Chillcott, Chief Executive
Products	Grocer, Travel Agent, Funeral Director, Ophthalmic Optician
Revenue	£257 million (2007)
Number of employees	3,700 (2006 approx.)
Website	www.arcs.co.uk at the Wayback Machine (archived 26 September 2013)

Anglia Regional Co-operative Society Limited was the fifth largest consumer co-operative in the United Kingdom. It was formed by the merger of the Greater Peterborough Regional and Anglia (formerly Waveney) co-operative societies in 1987. The Society had a wide-ranging and extensive portfolio with over 80 stores, principally trading in East Anglia. Head office was located at Westgate House, Peterborough until 2011.

The Society was a registered Industrial and Provident Society, a member of the Co-operative Union, the Co-operative Retail Trading Group and a corporate member of The Co-operative Group (formerly Co-operative Wholesale Society), the largest consumer co-operative in the world.

On 19 September 2013, it was announced that the boards of Anglia Co-operative Society and Midlands Co-operative Society had agreed merger terms. Approved by members on 4 and 18 November, legal completion of the merger took place on 1 December, with the Society transferring engagements to Midlands Co-operative. On 15 January 2014, members of the merged society approved a change of name to Central England Co-operative effective from 25 January 2014.

Under its rules, “The objects of the Society are to carry on the business of a store-keeper, general dealer and universal provider in all its branches, and in particular to buy, sell, manufacture, produce, grow, cultivate and deal in goods, stores, consumable articles, chattels and effects of all kinds, both wholesale and retail and generally to engage in any business, trade or industry which may seem to the Society directly or indirectly conducive to the interests or convenience of the Society's members or any section thereof.” In addition, the aims stated, “The Society shall at all times conduct its business and affairs in accordance with the Rochdale Principles of Co-operation, as published from time to time by the International Co-operative Alliance, serving the needs of its customers, employees and the communities in which it trades.” In practice, the Society’s principal undertakings at the time of merger with the Midlands Society, besides food and fuel retail, comprised the provision of funeral, optical, travel and foreign exchange services. Its previous engagements include department and furniture stores, motor car dealerships, dispensing chemists, dairy and bakery.