Co-op goodies...

[sugarmouse]

My ex-partner was one such 'anarchist'. She would go in with me to Tesco, pick up a snack and drink, and proceed to eat and drink them whilst shopping (and not paying at the end) :amazed_ani:. She had quite a nerve, I couldn't do that.


Guilty.:hmm:

[cobweb]

flibble it must have been the mouthwash, i think there must be millions of vegan anarchists around who have huge concerns about their dental hygeine :D

[horselesspaul]

I once had my car broken into because I'd left on the back seat a bag with a pack of fairtrade bananas and several bottles of co-op mouthwash.
You were asking for it, mouthwash baron!

[green woman]

I once had my car broken into because I'd left on the back seat a bag with a pack of fairtrade bananas and several bottles of co-op mouthwash.
A better class of thief, ethical with fresh breath.

[Shaolin Jedi]

Well I went shopping yesterday in my co-op, got mankind razor and blades, anti-perspirant deo, hair gel, anti-D shampoo, and lots of other goodies!

Thank heavens for clear labelling.

[emzy1985]

The Co-op here is abit pants. Well infact there are several and none are really big enough to stock all the cool shit you guys talk about. There is a big supermarket size co-op by my mum and I always pop in and get some stuff....just a shame there isn't more of a market for it here.

[Linxie]

I went to my co-op yesterday to stock up on toiletries and cleaning products. I just wish they did more vegan food stuffs, maybe its just my small shop but there is very little food.

Having said that I am just munching on pasta with a co-op sundried tomato and basil sauce. Not bad at all for a jar sauce!

[leedsveg]

I too went to my Co-op yesterday and was very disappointed. I'd not been for some weeks and I don't think it was my imagination that there seemed to be significantly less own brand food labelled 'suitable for vegans' than previously. I especially noticed this in the cereals. Also it's not own brand I know but I was disappointed to see all the variety of Green + Blacks chocolate bars contained powdered cow's milk. Yuk!

[Mr Flibble]

Small co-ops (particularly glorified news agents) are often quite rubbish. Larger stores are generally good, though they knocked down the one I used to shop at and built an IKEA.

[herbwormwood]

They have a lot of shelf space reserved for christmas tacky atm, means less space for vegan goodies until next year!

[Pearl]

Ive found lots of donuts there recently though. I can forgive them them their crapness if there are donuts.:tongue_ani:

[herbwormwood]

On special offer at Newgate Street Co-op Newcastle, sensitive/totalcare toothpaste 62 pence; mouthwash 500 ml 51 pence.
Look for the red label "better than half price" its on a lot of items at the moment.

[Mr Flibble]

It's not quite worth driving to newcastle for, but that is pretty damned cheap!

[herbwormwood]

The dental hygiene offer is off now but they now have offer on their shower gel. Buy 2 for £1.20.

[Lifeonmars]

I can't afford much at the coop by my house because im poor and a student and every thing is expensive. It doesn't help that its designed for a bunch of snobby yuppies and only certain clicks of neo hippies. I feel like they are tyring to keep poor welfare working class people out by upping the price on every thing which is absolute crap. They aslo do not accept food stamps etc with some poor excuse in the newspaper saying they have tried but the machine "doesn't work". So I don't try to support mine.
Other then that, they have some delicious vegan cakes and baked goods. I got a specialized cake made for my birthday!

[bryzee86]

hi, lifeonmars. just so you know, this thread is regarding the UK co-operative food (http://www.co-operative.coop/food/) shops.

[herbwormwood]

Yes, our UK co-op aka "The Co-op" has some of the cheapest UK vegan toiletries and household cleaning products...they are not available outside the UK AFAIK. They are way cheaper than Lush or any of the specialist vegan toiletry suppliers.

[sandra]

Yes, I love the Co-op. I use their shampoo and conditioner and I get one of their hairsprays which is vegan too! :)

[Lifeonmars]

hi, lifeonmars. just so you know, this thread is regarding the UK co-operative food (http://www.co-operative.coop/food/) shops.

Whoops, just saw a thread from the vegan food area about coops:confused:.

[Mr Flibble]

It doesn't help that its designed for a bunch of snobby yuppies and only certain clicks of neo hippies.

I was getting really confused by this ;)

I assumed you meant washington as in the place in the east of England. I tend to assume that British people are the only ones on the Internet, given that we invented it :p

[herbwormwood]

Washington being the home town of Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music front man).

[Gorilla]

the Co-op nearest where i'm living at the moment does jam doughnuts with apple/raspberry/plum flavour jam, labelled Co-operative Bakery in white paper bags and actually marked 'suitable for vegetarians and vegans' :D

[bradders]

got a co-op in the village, quite nice and a few good things but not big enough at all really, I miss Normid (co-ops old BIG shops that had entertainment departments, household appliance dept etc) they need to start doing more big shops again, along the lines of Waitrose (and pay staff like waitrose too). At my local I can get detergent and washing up liquid and things like that but no spread or handwash or shower gell etc.

[beanstew]

My local Co-op has got the donuts and fair trade mince pies. I have eaten lots. :satisfied:

[Marrers]

This post by Mzee points out that Co-op have been removing the word 'vegan' from labels on their own brand foods. It was posted in the 'vegan labelling' thread but I thought Co-op fans would be interested to know - I didn't know about this as don't shop there often enough to notice such changes.

Perhaps we all need to contact them to complain and question why this is happening.


It was always safe in the Co-op; they had their own labelling "Suitable for vegetarians & vegans". If it just said "Suitable for vegetarians", they would often give an explanation of why it was not vegan (e.g. shellac glazing).

Now things that I've always bought from them have the same name and list of ingredients, but add "May contain traces of nuts, milk". This may be fair enough, but they have also removed "& vegans" from the front of the pack. Surely they should read the Vegan Society guidance and keep the "& vegans", but have the "May contain" for allergy sufferers. If they wanted to be really clear, they could add a few extra words: "Attention allergy sufferers - May contain traces of nuts,milk"

The example I first noticed was their Bran Flakes 2 weeks ago, so I bought their High Fibre Bran instead. Today I went back for some more, but that has now been re-packaged the same way. After 5 minutes scrutinising the packet I decided to buy it anyway, but I'm disappointed to say the least and posting here first to get any feedback before I write to them..

OK, we're on this thread and aware of the issues, but what about a new vegan or potential vegan? Won't they just find it all too hard and give up? :(