The UK's two biggest co-operatives have agreed terms to merge and form the world's largest consumer co-operative group.
A tie-up between Co-operative Group, in Manchester, and Rochdale-based United Co-operatives would form an organisation that would account for more than 80 per cent of the co-operative retail trade in the UK.
The united company would have a combined workforce of more than 87,000 staff and a network of over 4,500 sites.
The 3.5 million members of the Co-operative Group will meet in April and May to consider the merger and if it is approved, as has been advised, the new enlarged society is expected to begin operating in late July. United Co-operatives has 930,000 members.
The Co-operative Group has an annual turnover of £8bn. United Co-operatives has a turnover of £2.5bn a year.
The combined force would boast sites stretching from Cornwall to the Scottish Islands, with its particular areas of strength lying in the north of England and the north Midlands.
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