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UNICORN GROCERYIS ALL HEART THIS CO-OPERATIVES FORTNIGHT

UNICORN Grocerystaff and customers swapped beetroot and beans for brushes and bin bags on Saturday, July 4to mark the Big Co-op Clean.

The Big Co-op Clean is a national campaign, with thousands of co-op members demonstrating the power of working together in clean-up events up and down the country. And Unicorn staff got in on the act by cleaning up a section of the Fallowfield Loop in Chorlton, Manchester.

XXXX XXXX, of Unicorn Grocery said: “Ethical principles are at the core of our business. That also means caring for and having pride in the community in which we operate.

“The Big Co-op Clean isn’t just about picking up litter. It’s about achieving more by working together. It might sound obvious, but co-operating is central to our success as a co-operative – and we are part of something much bigger happening across the UK.

“People might be aware that we are a worker co-op, but don’t necessarily know what that means. We want our customers and the wider public to understand that co-ops are a unique business model. For instance, here at Unicorn we all own an equal share in the business and have an equal say in how things are run.”

The Big Co-op Clean is part of Co-operatives Fortnight (20 June to 4 July), an annual awareness campaign to help people become more familiar with co-operatives in their local area.

Co-operative businesses are not limited to the food stores, pharmacies and funeral care services that most people are used to seeing on the high street. The sector is truly diverse covering everything from bakeries to bicycle stores, childcare providers to cheese producers, and farms to football clubs.

Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, the organisation behind the Co-operatives Fortnight campaign said: “From Glasgow to Lincoln, the Big Co-op Clean is having a positive impact. The campaign is underpinned by a simple but powerful message, a message about the power of co-operative working.

“The sector’s community credentials have never been in doubt. For co-ops it is not simplybusiness as usual, andChorlton residents are now a little bit more aware of Unicorn’s contribution right here in this local community.”

Co-operatives Fortnight runs from 20 June to 4 July 2015. For more information on the campaign visit or download the ‘Co-operate’ app to find other co-operative businesses.

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Notes to editors:

Co-operatives UK works to promote, develop and unite co-operative enterprises. It has a unique role as a trade association for co-operatives and its campaigns for co-operation, such as Co-operatives Fortnight, bring together all those with a passion and interest in co-operative action.

Co-operatives UK represents over 4,000 co-operative businesses and any organisation supportive of co-operation and mutuality can join. All members benefit from specialist services and the chance to network with other co-operatives.

For further information, please contact:

Dominic Mills, Communications and Marketing Officer

Tel: 0161 214 1767

Email: