Approaches to retail management:: 1. Cambridge Co‐op

Abstract

In this analysis of a progressive Co‐op society—Cambridge & District Co‐operative Society Ltd—one characteristic which clearly emerges is that of an integrated management system which uses modern management techniques to maximise its success. Contribution accounting has been found most successful; increasing sophistication in product management is helping the Society to become more competitive. Cambridge Co‐op is essentially a conglomerate operation. Its £31m turnover is generated from a massive edge‐of‐town discount store, seven department stores, 62 food stores, 5 pharmacies, dairy processing, fuel delivery and funeral services. Peter Paxton has been chief executive officer for some years. This is the first of a series of analytical articles by David Walters in which he will look at a number of companies in turn, with special attention to product range management, store location policy, manpower planning, and management control systems.

Citation

Walters, D. (1976), "Approaches to retail management:: 1. Cambridge Co‐op", Retail and Distribution Management, Vol. 4 No. 5, pp. 6-13. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb017857