Olympic gold medallist heads winning Co-op Retail Conference line-up
News item
An Olympic champion is set to inspire and challenge customer-owned retailers at this year’s Co-op Retail Conference, 14-16 March in Nottingham, proudly sponsored by VME Coop for the seventh consecutive year.
Gold medal-winning hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE, will deliver a keynote, sharing how teamwork, resilience, and shared leadership propelled Team GB’s women’s hockey team to the top of the Rio 2016 podium. It is just one highlight of the Co-operatives UK-organised event which takes place near Nottingham from Friday 14 March to Sunday 16 March.
Focused on innovation and knowledge-sharing, the Co-op Retail Conference is the premier event for consumer-owned co-operative retail societies, which are worth nearly £15bn to the UK economy annually. It attracts the leaders, senior managers and directors of some of the UK’s l co-operatives.
What's in store?
Co-op Retail Conference 2025 boasts an exceptional line-up of sessions and speakers looking to explore the future of co-operative retail:
- Olympic gold medal-winner, Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE, shares the winning formula behind Team GB and England women’s hockey success. The keynote is followed by a fireside chat with Lincolnshire Co-operative CEO, Alison Hands.
- Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) returns with unparalleled insight on the UK grocery market including: shopper behaviour; technology-driven convenience; market predictions and forecasts and global retailer innovations.
- CEO Panel: The New Wave with Fresh Perspectives – Join Heart of England CEO Steve Browne, Scotmid Co-operative Chief Executive Karen Scott, and and East of England CEO, Andrew Rigby, as they share insight on leadership, mentorship, and the future of co-operative retail.
- In the United Nations-designated International Year of Co-operatives, global retail co-operative leaders – including Germán Lorenzo Ochoa (Mondragon, Spain) and Vesa Koivuranta (SOK, Finland) – will share perspectives on the future of co-operative retail worldwide.
- Latest insights into policy and advocacy efforts shaping the future of the UK’s co-operative economy from the Co-operative Party.
Richard Bridges, VP of Sales at conference sponsor VME Coop, welcomed the stellar lineup. He said:
Full line-up and tickets
- View the line-up – with more speakers still to be announced!
- View the ticket options – Co-operatives UK members receiving 30% off
