International Year of Co-operatives
Rochdale, the World Capital of Co-operatives, has been hosting
events across the borough throughout 2012 in celebration of the
special year.
The co-operative movement was started by 28 men, the Rochdale
Pioneers, in 1844 who opened the first co-op store on Toad Lane
selling basic products such as butter, sugar, flour and
oatmeal.
The Pioneers’ way of doing business was different. It was based
on a set of values including honesty, openness, self-help and
equality. They returned a share of the profits to customers and
loyal customers had an equal say in how the business was run. Those
principles spread across the world and 800 million people in over
100 countries are now members of co-ops. In the UK there are more
than 5,500 co-operatives with a turnover of more than £30
billion.
The Rochdale Pioneers Museum, based in the original Toad Lane
store, reopened in October after extensive refurbishment and
Rochdale welcomed visitors from across the globe for an
International Co-operative Alliance dinner, hosted in Rochdale Town
Hall’s spectacular Great Hall to mark the official close of the
international celebrations.
Contact
Communications Team
Number One Riverside
Smith Street
Rochdale OL16 1XU
Tel: 01706 925642
Email: Media@rochdale.gov.uk
Press office
.
