An independent co-operative which operates retail, funeral and coffee services across the south has been presented with the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.
Southern Co-op, which runs a number of stores across Wokingham borough, is one of 31 organisations recognised in the Sustainable Development category. The Queen approves all winners.
Its citation reads: “It has been an exceptionally hard few years for businesses and this achievement is testament to the resilience you and your staff have shown through these unprecedented times.
“Southern Co-op is awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development because it can clearly demonstrate that is delivering on its original purpose to put purpose before profit.”
The awards celebrate businesses who offer pioneering products or services, social mobility programmes or show a commitment to sustainable development practices.
Mark Smith, Southern Co-op’s Chief Executive, said: “We are honoured to have been awarded this significant and well-respected title.
“We are committed to being a responsible and sustainable business, playing our part in creating a fairer society and sustainable world.
“Our colleagues work hard to realise this goal across every aspect of our business and this award recognises not only the progress we’ve made but the high standards to which they work.
He continued: “In our entry, we explained that Southern Co-op was originally set up nearly 150 years ago in response to the societal challenges of that time – exploitation, inequality and poverty.
“Many of these challenges sadly still exist today, alongside environmental challenges like climate change, declining natural resources and threatened wildlife/habitats. We all need to continue working together to tackle these issues and truly make a difference to our futures.”
