Those with keen eyes walking through the city centre in recent days may have noticed that some Co-op stores have gone through a clever rebrand.
It may not have caught the eyes straight away, but after a closer look, shoppers will have noticed that branches of the supermarket retailer in major UK cities are now going by the alternative name of Co-op26 – and it’s all part of Co-op’s bid to “engage customers” throughout the COP26 conference and beyond.
The United Nations’ climate change conference COP26 is taking place in Glasgow from Sunday 31 October – Friday 12 November.
The retailer says the Co-op26 campaign is aiming to get people right across the country asking questions about how they can impact climate change at a community level.
Six flagship Co-op stores across the UK – including the branch on High Street in Manchester city centre – have fully been rebranded to Co-op26, with bright blue exterior signage and window vinyl takeovers attempting to capture the attention of passers’ by, while the rest of the retailer’s 2,600 food stores and 830 funeral care homes also have everything from hanging boards, shelf edge labels, and bunting, to exterior bollard covers, and in-store radio takeovers to communicate the message and encourage customers to get involved.
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Six flagship Co-op stores across the UK have been rebranded – including the branch on High Street in Manchester city centre / Credit: Twitter (@Poody1976) | The Co-op Group
People across the UK having been taking to social media in recent days to share their reactions and thoughts on the rebranding, as well as posting photos of their local Co-op branches looking a little different to usual.
The rebranding appears to have been widely praised by many, with one shopper on Twitter simply telling Co-op “well played”.
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Jackson Mills – Area Manager at Manchester’s Co-op stores – also shared a video of the High Street store’s rebranding on Twitter, adding in the caption: So proud that Co-op is supporting #COP26. I’m outside High Street Co-op today looking at our new display, asking people to co-operate together and make a difference.
It’s not only the stores that’ll be taking part either.
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Continuing with the play on words, Co-op has also rebranded all its social media channels to Co-op26 for the duration of the conference too.
“Climate action needs to be truly accessible and inclusive in order to make the difference that’s so urgently needed,” explained Steve Murrells – CEO of The Co-op Group.
“While the world looks to the COP26 conference to guide global leaders on how countries can accelerate change, we are shining a spotlight on how Co-op, our customers, members and colleagues can all play their part in the fight against climate change on a community level.
“Through the launch of the Co-op26 campaign, we want to grab the attention of communities all across the UK to get them thinking, asking questions and taking action, as well as equip them to use their voice and successfully activate the ‘tell your politician’ pledge.”
Manchester United fans planning another major protest amid more upheaval around the club
Danny Jones
Manchester United supporters look set to stage another high-profile demonstration in protest against the INEOS Sports ownership group.
This is the latest response to the club’s continuing struggles, and not just the first proper organised mobilisation of the year, but the first since the most recent major march last spring.
Following the sacking of ‘manager’ Ruben Amorim, despite co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and his board of executives insisting that the Portuguese head coach (that distinction proving to be a crucial detail), the local sporting giants are once again starting from scratch and looking for another replacement boss.
With that in mind, militant fan group The 1958 announced their most recent protest ahead of a home fixture next month in a rather bold fashion…
As announced we protest against this dysfunctional co-ownership before Fulham.
Yep, neither Amorim, Erik ten Hag, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, nor any face even remotely associated with Old Trafford/Carrington is safe from an AI parody.
As for The 1958 group’s actual protest plans, speaking via the BBC this week, the supporters’ trust has confirmed that they will be making a vocal statement outside the stadium on Sunday, 1 February.
Travelling Reds already made their thoughts known with a very blunt, provocative and somewhat controversial banner in the away end at Turf Moor for the 2-2 draw against Burnley.
With Man United approaching a third-round FA Cup tie against Brighton and two big games in the form of a Manchester Derby at home and a trip to Arsenal, they have decided to choose the Fulham game at Old Trafford to stage the march.
Despite admitting that the results under Amorim were no way near good enough, they insist that the – most notably the overarching and Glazer family shadow ever looming over the organisation.
Further details around the actual timings and locations are still yet to be shared by the organisers, but you can expect this to be a well-attended, large-scale event.
Often convening at The Tollgate pub near regular matchday tram stop, Trafford Bar, before walking down Talbot Road towards the ground itself, we imagine Reds will then descend upon the Theatre of Dreams in their thousands.
In case you didn’t already surmise from the video itself, Ratcliffe and co. will be no doubt the subject of the usual chants, as well as more banners and flags.
What do you make of the latest plans, Man United fans?
Nothing will ever be quite as bold as the infamous Old Trafford break-in from 2022 (Credit: The Manc)
More Greater Manchester football matches called off as Storm Goretti sets in
Danny Jones
Yet more scheduled football matches in Greater Manchester and the surrounding regions have been postponed and/or cancelled due to Storm Goretti.
The increasingly cold, blustery and icy conditions moving over from France and across more parts of the UK have already caused schools to close, flights to be grounded, and plenty more disruption.
Another such inconvenience has come in the form of live sports, large swathes of which now look like they simply won’t be taking place.
One of the latest to be called off is Salford City‘s upcoming game against Swindon Town in the FA Cup this weekend, with various other games involving teams up and down the footballing pyramid now facing uncertainty over whether their third-round fixtures will go ahead as planned.
Ironically, this is just the tip of the iceberg, if you’ll pardon the very obvious pun.
Another game that was called off late last week, between Chadderton and FC Isle of Man, is yet to be rescheduled; the same is true of Rochdale AFC’s meeting with Brackley Town, Radcliffe v Oxford City, as well as games involving Bury, Stockport Town, Irlam, Cheadle Town, Prestwich Heys and more.
Other nearby outfits, such as Chorley, Warrington Rylands and Ramsbottom United, just to name a few, are also still unsure of when their next game will be.
In many cases, it is simply a matter of the grounds being largely or completely frozen and deemed unfit for use following pitch inspections.
Oldham Athletic – which has already been hit with plenty of snow and frost – yesterday confirmed that their Notts County clash wouldn’t be going ahead due to that very reason.
With winds of up to 90 miles per hour also being reported, yellow and even red weather warnings have been issued across various parts of the country, with people being urged to check their routes home from work by local authorities.
Storm Goretti should start calming down this evening (Fri, 9 January) and into Saturday morning, but the after-effects could still play havoc over the next few days.
For instance, over in Cheshire, Macclesfield FC are going so far as to call on nearby residents to help clear their playing surface from heavy snowfall.
So, if you’re in the area and fancy helping out, they could sure do with your help.
VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
Macclesfield FC are once again requesting the help of the fanbase and the local community to help clear the remainder of the compacted snow from the surrounding areas of the https://t.co/fL99QEEJ4D Stadium.
Emily Sergeant -
28th October 2021 
