* Current director standing for re- election

Why do you want to be a director of Southern Co-op?

• To enable change within the wider business
• Protecting our people is my primary goal
• To become the voice of our colleagues within the board room

Why do you think you would be a good director of Southern Co-op

Having served 3 years as a director and more recently as the vice chair, I feel I’m an ideal candidate to fully represent the view of our colleagues across the wider business and thus represent this view within the board room.

Having been an employee for over 21 years now I have seen how the business has evolved and incorporated new revenue streams such as our franchised Starbucks coffee stores and partnerships with online delivery providers. Having seen how beneficial these have been I’m ideally suited to help govern within the board room and share my unique experience of our co-operative.

How do you demonstrate Southern Co-op’s values in your own life?

As a family man and a father of 2 very capable and fierce young ladies I encourage family values including self-responsibility, solidarity and owning your fair share of the daily chores whilst supporting one another. All voices are heard in our home.

I try to ensure myself and my family act in a way that reflects who we truly are as individuals. An honest, hardworking and supportive family.

My girls both regularly remind me, “Daddy you must always be kind, caring and considerate”. A phrase learnt at nursery that has stuck firmly with them both!

Candidate Answers to the Questions from Members

Question 1 – What changes or improvements should Southern Co-op make in order to stay profitable and to keep, and hopefully increase, its customers with the ever increasing challenges of bigger and more heavily discounted supermarkets? – Steven from Winchester

The key focus for me on this would be members prices and the new Price Lock activity we are seeing in some of our stores. Building on this area and then being able to grow our member offers and improved price point will in turn help more customers sign up to membership and grow the business.

Question 2 – In what ways would you represent and support Southern Co-op’s colleagues at board level, to help them enjoy their roles and achieve their aims?

As a long standing colleague of Southern Co-op, I am ideally suited to be the voice of our colleague members and non-colleague members within the board room, having started as a duty manager some 20+ years ago I have an extensive understanding of the overall wants and needs of our colleagues. My focus has always been looking to the wellbeing of all colleagues and ensuring everyone is treated fairly and consistently at all times.

Question 3 – What do you understand is the difference between a co-operative and a company?

Put simply, people over profit. Being a co-operative is all about how can we support each other, our local communities, our environment and our planet, as opposed to a company where it’s more about the bottom line.

Question 4 – Climate change is going to increasingly affect all our lives and will mean necessary changes to food production, reduced availability of certain foods, necessary mitigation of increasing temperatures on machinery and vehicles, staff and customers. What would you do to ensure that Southern Co-op is prepared for these challenges and that customers can be assured that measures are in place to mitigate the effects of climate change? – Jane from Corsham

Having already served 3 years on the board, I am well versed on how Southern Co-op is prepared for climate change. The exceptionally high focus by our sustainability team to ensure we deliver on our climate goals have ensured that we are exceeding our targets on reducing our carbon impact. I would continue to fully support the existing plan our sustainability team and Chief Executive have agreed to deliver on.

Question 5 – I like Southern Co-op and shop regularly. However, the smaller stores seem to have lots of offers on highly processed and unhealthy foods like ready meals, bakery items etc. This concerns me as I think of Southern Co-op as an ethically clean group. Can you tell us what you would do to make Southern Co-op more green and encourage healthier eating and living? – Helen from Bath

[No answer given]

Question 6 – I have recently been reading of concerns regarding the rearing and butchering practices of some co-op suppliers, particularly in the poultry industry. What are your views and positions when it comes to how animal welfare is upheld in the name of the co-op movement?

This is not an area I am fully aware of. I would need to review this and ensure I am fully versed to comment on this. However, Southern Co-op has always and will always do everything in its power to ensure all our products are ethically sourced and that animal welfare is a critical focus. I feel if the rearing and butchery processes are not correct then we should not be in business with those suppliers.

Question 7 – What will you do to pro-actively encourage more people from Black Asian and Minority Ethnic groups to stand for board elections? – Richard from Epsom

Attracting Candidates from more diverse background is something Southern Co-op is actively promoting. From a personal perspective I would like to engage with local universities and colleagues, to highlight Co-operative ethos and engage with more viable candidates from this route. It would also add a younger voice to the board.

Question 8 – What would you do to address the fact that different co-ops have different cards? Do you agree that one co-op card for national use is needed?

One card for all Co-ops with linked benefits for all members is the dream and one that has been looked at many times and is very much something all Co-ops would like to have. Unfortunately, it’s never as simple as just agreeing to it. I am hopeful that this will come to be in the near future.

Question 9 – For those standing for re-election, what difference have you made? For those who are standing for the first time, what difference will you make?

The biggest difference I feel I have made is being a strong voice for our colleagues, being there to help the board understand the impacts of any decisions being made in the board room and how that could translate into direct impacts for our colleagues working in our stores, coffee shops and funeral homes.