NEWSStar

ISSU

E05

/16

www.chelmsfordstar.coop

Message from

Barry WoodChief Executive

Barry Wood MCMI CIRM -CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Dear Colleagues,

Since the last edition of Star News was published, thefinancial results for the first half of the financial year havebeen produced.

At the net profit level, that is after we have paid interest on bank loans,etc, the result is a little more positive; with an increase over budget of£21,000 and an increase over last year of £25,000.

The first half has seen us face many new challenges as the retaillandscape continues to change and the second half will also containmany challenges, including:

• Continued competition and price deflation in the food market.

• The impact of John Lewis opening on Chelmsford City Centre.

• The integration of Dagenham and Leigh-on-Sea into the Society’s Food business, along with two further acquisitions.

• The completion of the refurbishment of the Chelmsford quadrant ground floor.

• The refurbishment of Danbury and Melbourne Food stores.

As a result of everybody’s efforts, we are making some solid progress inall of our businesses at a very challenging time.

If you would like to hear more about our financial performance anddevelopment plans, then come to the interim meeting on Monday, 10th October 2016 at 6.30pm in Chelmsford quadrant.

Thank you all for your hard work sofar this year.Yours sincerely,

New foodstore opensEssex based Co-operative Society, Chelmsford Star has recently acquiredanother convenience food store on Wood Lane in Dagenham. This brings theSociety’s portfolio of convenience food stores to thirty nine.

The 2,000 square foot store will be branded The Co-operative Wood Lane and will not onlystock a selection of convenience ranges but offer services including National Lottery, PayPoint,and an ATM.

The staff at store, which previously traded as an independent Nisa, have all been retained.

Barry Wood commented; “We are delighted to bring our co-operative brand andspirit to Dagenham. The previous owner has done some sterling communitywork and we will certainly look to buildon this special relationship.”

InterimmeetingCalling all members, ourInterim meeting will be takingplace in our ChelmsfordQuadrant store on Monday10th October at 6.30pm. (Doors open at 6pm).

Why not come along and find outabout your local co-operative,what we’ve been up to and whatthe future holds.

You will also get to samplefairtrade food on the night. Bring your membership card and we’ll see you there!

The Co-op has extended its commitment toback UK farmers by switching all of its freshbacon and lamb to 100% British.

The new sourcing initiative will make the Co-op theonly major UK food retailer to stock 100% own-brandfresh British beef, chicken, pork, lamb, bacon andturkey. It is already the only retailer to use British meatin all its chilled ready meals, pies and sandwiches.

Co-op – Britishmeat pledge

FashionBrandsTime to update yourautumn wardrobe?We’re delighted to welcome popular high streetbrands; Phase Eight, Dorothy Perkins andWallis to the Chelmsford Quadrant store,helping you to get on trend this season.

You’ll find them all on the ground floor alongsidethe already stylish collection of ladieswear.

Malcolmin the CookshopMalcolm Harradine attended theChelmsford Quadrant department store onboth Saturday 27th August and Wednesday28th September to carry out cookingdemos in store and there were severalspecial offers on items in the cookshop.

Festive Findin Quadrant Department

stores now:

MembersPreview EveningCongratulations to Mrs Thompson, one ofour members from Writtle.

Mrs Thompson attended our Members PreviewEvening (8th Sept), in Chelmsford Quadrant andentered our prize draw to WIN a Radley bagworth over £200.

Comingsoon!

Members’ Calendar£5 Members

(Chelmsford Star Co-operative)£7 Non-members

FurnitureClearance eventWe held a furniture clearance event at theChelmsford city Racecourse over the bankholiday weekend.

Baylis & HardingMidnight Fig &Pomegranate Mini Bath

£5.99

Premier DecorationsAdvent Train

£29.99

Pass the Pud Game

£19.99

BombCosmeticsBath Blasters:Passionfruit Dream& Chillie Millie

£2.50each

World’s SmallestReading Light

£3.99Mime Time Game

£7.99

Love Hearts Puzzle

£10.99

Pringles Tube Puzzle

£9.99

£35 £40 £150

Store ManagerGino presentingher with her

prize!

Autumn Sale now on in Quadrant

To date we have raised: £7580Top 5 stores:1. Challis Lane - £517.552. Writtle - £431.053. Blackmore - £430.344. Beehive Lane - £315.715. Hutton - £255.71

Our Funeral team attendedBarleylands showon 11th & 12th September

Exchange Way store to closeWe are sad to announce the closure of ourstore in Exchange Way Chelmsford, withinthe High Chelmer shopping centre.

The Society was proud to have opened a food storein the centre of its home town in 2010, havingalready been an integral part of the city'sdepartment store offering for nearly 150 years.However, a combination of factors, including increasedcompetition in the convenience market, food pricedeflation, high rent and rates due to the city centrelocation, have meant that the store has nevermanaged to make an acceptable level of return.

Chelmsford Star's Chief Executive Officer, BarryWood, said, "We have lost a considerableamount of money maintaining a presencewithin the centre of town, and whilst thishas been a very difficult decision to make,and a very sad one, it is important that theSociety's Directors and Management act inthe best interests of our members toprotect their investment." He added, "Weare doing everything we can to protect thejobs of our colleagues by finding themalternative sites to work at."

Canines attend Long Road StoreWe held a member day at our Long Road,Canvey store in early September with ourcommunity card group, Canine Partners.

Laura Hammond hasnow left the ChelmfordQuadrant furnituredepartment after 8 yearsservice. Laura is going towork at Stansted Airport

Mary King, recently retired from our MoulshamLodge food store. Mary completed 27 years servicewith the Society and was presented flowers by Kevin Bennett (Head of Membership & Marketing)and Store Manager, Paul Clark.

Our marketingcampaign,‘Imagine’ hascommenced topromote theQuadrantdepartment storein Chelmsford.

Good luck &all the best toLaura & Mary

Social Media UpdateTwitter = 993 followersFacebook = 1514 likesLinkedIn = 260 followers

ImagineCampaign...

Have youseen our adverts

on the back of buses,posters in the citycentre car parks orthe billboard at the station?

In both stores:Alstons –Camden sofaRelyon – pocketmemory divan setBraintree

Cookshop:Breadmaker

ChelmsfordCookshop:Joules Crockery

Fundraising

3 seater sofa £975normally £1219

£899MRP £1489

20% OFF£109.99£159.99

Remember, the colleague that serves the Member ofMonth gets rewarded with Co-op gift vouchers too!

Our latest Members of the Month are:

AUGUST 2016

Here is a list of staff progressed since the last newsletter.SupervisorsPenny Bailey - MelbourneLauren Sweeney - MeadgateRachel Bibby - IngatestoneMihaela Sfrijan – Duke St.

Samual Rigg - Melbourne

Clare Bentley - DanburyDaniel Rowe - Nevendon

Bed SuppliersDid you know that the SLEEP COUNCIL suggestthat if you use your bed regularly then to getthe best night’s sleep and support for yourback, it should be changed every seven years?

But what should we be looking for when buying a bedand how can we be sure that the bed we have chosenis the right one for our needs?

We held an event back in August where severalexperts from our bed suppliers attended to advisecustomers on getting the perfect bed.

Wednesday 7th December 2016Retired and long serving employee Christmas dinner.

5th December 2016 at Chelmsford CathedralFunerals – upcoming remembrance evening.

Thursday 2nd MarchFairtrade Evening – Chelmsford Quadrant.

Dates for your diary!

Wondering whereyour next holidaywill take you andlooking for someholiday inspiration?Why not attendour Travel Fair atthe ChelmsfordCity Racecourseon Sunday 16thOctober?

Our expert travelconsultants and selected tour operators will be onhand between 10am and 4pm to offer advice andguidance to help you find your perfect holiday.Exclusive discounts are available and therewill also be a chance to win £150 of travelvouchers on the day!

Gemma

…for July 2016:1st James Collier – Chelmsford Menswear

2nd Philip Galsworthy – Chelmsford Menswear

3rd Sharon White – Braintree Quadrant

…for August 2016:1st Gemma Clark - Fashions Braintree

2nd Gail Mitchelson - Furniture Chelmsford

3rd Beverley Patience - Fashions Chelmsford

Department Store Colleaguesof the Month 2016:

James

Congratulations to Jim Kaye, heanswered our online customersurvey and won himself £150 inCo-op vouchers!

Travel fair

Book sales reachover £1000The Quadrant department store in Chelmsfordhas a book case beside its restaurant wheremembers of the public bring unwanted books orchose books for a donation.

Since its inception in August 2014, the book sale hasnow raised over £1,000 for local charities through theCharity of the Year scheme.

The nominated charity, voted inby the society’s employees,changes every year in May.

The book sale has raised £483for The J’s Hospice, £423 forSouth East & Essex CentralMind and a total of £125 so farfor current charity, Kids Inspire.

Lloyd (Braintree furnituredepartment) and HelenMeacher (Braintree travel) onthe birth of an “all co-op baby”Harry Arthur CharlesMeacher born on Sunday25th September weighing 9lb7oz, and congratulations toNagendy (IT) and his wifeSowmiya, on the birth of theirdaughter; Anumitha (they callher Anu) on Thursday 15thSeptember, weighing 7lb 2oz.

Writtle Freshers FayreCongratulations to student, Georgia Smart,who was drawn as the winner from theWrittle Freshers Fayre. Georgia wonherself a couple of baskets of shopping!

Training UpdateDuty ManagersToni Romano – Beehive

Assistant ManagersCraig Mellon – Broomfield

Congratulations to...

Welldone!

If you're servingcustomersremember toask for theirmembershipcard EVERYtime.Denise Higgins (right)

member of month forSeptember at KingsRoad with KarenCheasley (colleague). SEPTEMBER 2016

Mrs Bauckham (left)member of the monthfor August at BaddowRoad with Darren Jones(colleague).