Museum of Science and Industry

MOSI researchers are collecting real-life stories from people who once worked at food and drink factories or grocery stores operated by The Co-operative Group (Co-op) - one of the pioneers of the worldwide Co-op movement.

The Museum is keen to hear from anyone who worked in the food processing or retailing sides of the business to record interviews, extracts of which will be available on the MOSI website. There will also be an open day on Monday 5 October, where former workers are invited for a close-up view of old Co-op items in the collections, and to talk to researchers.

Co-op factories in Greater Manchester once manufactured a range of food products, including biscuits, margarine and tea. The Museum's collections include Co-op items such as over 200 scales for fruit and potatoes, biscuit tins, Snap cards advertising Co-op tea and a ceramic tile frieze from the grocery section of the Beswick Co-operative Society shop. 

Sallyann Browning, Oral History Project Officer said: “The Co-op's food services played an important part in Manchester’s economic and social history and we want to make sure we have people’s working experiences recorded and stored for future generations.  If you're interested in being interviewed, please get in touch or come along to our open day on 5 October.”

The worldwide Co-operative movement was started by the Rochdale Society for Equitable Pioneers in 1844 and the Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) was founded in Manchester in 1863.  The CWS became the supplier to the local co-operative societies, using its bulk-buying power to keep consumer prices down.  In 1968, a major re-branding exercise brought all Co-op products under the same brand identity for the first time. Today the UK's Co-operative Group is the 10^th largest co-operative in the world.

The Co-op oral histories are part of MOSI's 'Connecting with People's Histories' project, which is supported by a 'Your Heritage' grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  This project focuses on the food and drink, entertainment, gas and electricity industries.  The Museum would be delighted to hear from anyone who worked in one of those industries.  MOSI already holds more than 150 oral history interviews, which range from accounts of textile and chemical workers to interviews with key figures from the Manchester music scene, such as Dave Haslam.   

If you worked in one of the Co-operative’s food processing or retailing units and would like to be interviewed by MOSI as part of its Oral History Project please come along to our open event in MOSI’s Collections Centre, Lower Byrom Street, Manchester M3 4FP on Monday 5 October at 2-4pm, or contact Sallyann Browning on Tel: 0161 606 0211 or email: s.browning@mosi.org.uk

For media information or images please call Sarah Roe on 0161 606 0176 m: 07847 372647 or Diane Inglis on Tel: 0161 606 0173.

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