Sourced By Oxfam ethical range of products set to be rolled out to more Central Co-op shops

Oxfam is partnering with Central Co-op to sell its Sourced by Oxfam products in Central Co-op shops across the UK. The aim is to continue rolling out the range of ethical products to more shops in the coming years.

Birdhouse balls, sari bags and rugs, essential oil gift sets and bee-themed garden products are some of the Sourced By Oxfam items that will be available in the selected supermarket and convenience stores. They will offer Central Co-op customers a taste of the wider range of new products available in Oxfam shops.

The partnership is part of an ongoing trial which launched in April, and saw 13 Central Co-op shops selling Oxfam’s limited edition Pride products. More items will feature in new Central Co-op stores as they open over the next 18 months.

Central Co-op has an ethical buying framework for procuring its products and supporting supplier partners. It recognises that providing consumers with ethical choices is essential for fighting poverty.

All the products in the Sourced by Oxfam range are sourced worldwide from accountable suppliers who put people and planet before profit. This new partnership aims to switch more shoppers on to ethical shopping, and raise awareness of the poverty-fighting feel-good new products on sale in Oxfam shops.

Jamie Thompson, Head of Commercial Development at Central Co-op said:

“Central Co-op is pleased to introduce Oxfam to our stores, which initially landed in ten sites across our trading estate at the end of April. We expanded to include its Pride range in fifty-five of our supermarkets to mark Pride month in June this year. We’re keen to explore other ways we can grow our relationship with Oxfam for the future.

“Diversity and Inclusion are core to our culture as we believe this enables us to truly represent our colleagues and the communities we serve. Our partnership with Oxfam makes good business sense for us and also supports the excellent work the charity delivers across the globe, which aligns with our purpose of creating a sustainable Society for all.”

Denis Goulding, Business Development Manager at Oxfam said:

“We are thrilled to partner with Central Co-op to spread the message of ethical shopping and support our local producers and artisans from across the globe. The partnership between Sourced by Oxfam and Central Co-op has been a natural fit as both organisations put ethical sourcing at the centre of their buying principles. We hope our products will be a hit with Central Co-op's ethically conscious customers.”

With Central Co-op's ethical buying framework and Oxfam’s mission of ending poverty, the businesses share similar values. The partnership will raise crucial funds for Oxfam’s work across the world, with customers raising funds to fight the injustice of poverty.

Ends

Notes to editor:

About Oxfam

Oxfam is a global movement of people all working towards the same goal – an end to the injustice of poverty. Together we save and rebuild lives in disasters, help people earn a living, and speak out on the big issues, like inequality and climate change, that keep people poor. Oxfam has 75 years’ experience championing second-hand. The first shop was opened in Broad Street, Oxford, in 1947 to raise money from the donations of second-hand items for the Greek famine.

Oxfam has 561 shops in the UK. By buying and donating your clothes through Oxfam shops, you can help to protect our planet, while helping the poorest people around the world to escape the injustice of poverty.

To find your local Oxfam shop go to www.oxfam.org.uk/shopfinder. Visit Oxfam’s Online Shop at onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk

To make a clothing donation via the post, order a free bag here: https://onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk/donate-clothes

Sourced by Oxfam

The Sourced by Oxfam range brings together the best of ethical, sustainable and brand-new items that the team has carefully sourced for shoppers from around the world.

About Central Co-op

Central Co-op is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK, with a heritage stretching back over 175 years and interests in food, funeral, floral and property investment.

Owned by hundreds of thousands of members, its 7,700 colleagues serve customers across 440 plus trading sites in 21 counties in the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Its purpose is to create a sustainable Society for all.

It actively campaigns for food justice and works with FareShare Midlands and a network of local food banks. It also adds £1 to every Healthy Start Voucher redeemed in store and supports six schools in partnership with Magic Breakfasts.

The Society embraces inclusivity and equality and is a signed-up member to the Business in the Community (BITC) Race at Work Charter. The Society is also a member of Diversity in Retail and it is fully committed to addressing the impacts of climate change by reducing carbon and food waste, increasing recycling and investment in community Sustainable Spaces funded by the carrier bag levy. It recently launched its Malawi Partnership to support farmers and producers in the country through the Co-operative International Trading Development Fund.

It invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities through its Community Dividend Fund scheme which has seen over £109,769.25 shared out between 121 good causes in 2022.

Press office contact: Paul Reece, Communications Manager

Contact details: pressoffice@centralengland.coop