Stop and Shop at the Co-op Shop

Reading Denise’s post here reminded me of the Gracie Fields song.

• There's a shop called the co-op (cwop) on the high street

  By gum it's a great idea

  For out of what you spend

  You get a dividend

  Three times every year

  When Ma takes two shillins for a share

  She shouts feelin like a millionaire!

  (She does)

  
  
• Stop an shop at the cwop the Co-op shop

  What the shop! It's the Cwop - the Co-op shop!

  You can buy from a chop to a prop or a mop

  Or a bottle of ginger pop at the Co-op shop!

  As the pop shop is next to the Cwop shop

  When you've done your popping in the pop shop

  You hop out of the pop shop and hop into the Cwop shop

  And promise you'll go shopping in the pop shop

  
  
• They have tripe, nice and ripe at the Co-op shop

  Pink pills, powder puffs pork pies

  Paraffin and jam, carbolic soap and ham

  ?loads per pan pink pies? (not sure about this line)

  And pigs heads all grinning in a row!

  Wont you join in this chorus sweet and low

  Sweet and low, Sweet and low!

From Wikipedia:

A Co-operative Wholesale Society, or CWS, is a form of Co-operative Federation (that is, a Co-operative in which all the members are Co-operatives), in this case, the members are usually Consumers' Co-operatives. According to Co-operative economist Charles Gide, the aim of a Co-operative Wholesale Society is to arrange “bulk purchases, and, if possible, organise production.” In other words, a Co-operative Wholesale Society is a form of Federal Co-operative through which Consumers' Co-operatives can collectively purchase goods at wholesale prices, and in some cases collectively own factories or farms.

The best historical examples of this are the (English) CWS and the Scottish CWS, which are the predecessors of the 21st century Co-operative Group. Indeed, in Britain, the terms Co-operative Wholesale Society or CWS are used to refer to this specific organisation rather than the organisational form. However, the English CWS has inspired many imitations around the world (including, for example, the New South Wales Co-operative Wholesale Society who have also described themselves as Co-operative Wholesale Societies or 'CWS'.

The Co-op is still going strong but has to contend with other supermarket chains that offer ‘rewards’ to faithful customers.