Tuesday 23rd November
The Society, which has served the Coventry and Warwickshire community for almost 190 years, is a contender in the Retail Business of the Year category in the Coventry Live Business Awards.
From opening its first grocery store in Foleshill in 1832, the Society has enjoyed continued growth through the decades.
Today it employs more than 850 people across its Coventry head office and its network of 35 Food stores and 15 Funeral homes which extend beyond Coventry and Warwickshire into Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
The Society, which puts continued investment in the business at the heart of its success, achieved a turnover last year of £92.1 million – an all-time high and an increase of 19.8 per cent on the previous year.
Operating profit increased by more than 22 per cent over the same period.
Ali Kurji, Chief Executive of the Heart of England Co-operative Society, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for the Retail Business of the Year category.
“The Society has a long and proud heritage, but the past 18 months have most certainly been among the most challenging in living memory. Despite the challenges our staff have come together to help weather the storm and we have identified opportunities which will we believe will help stand the business in good stead for the future.”
He added: “We are passionate about our offering as a community retailer and meeting the needs of our members and customers. We have adhered to the original vision of our founders – a practice which has served the Society well for almost two centuries and which we believe serve us well for many more years to come.”
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony which takes place at the Coventry Building Society Arena on October 14th.