Peter Marks spoke to members of pro.manchester this Monday at a high profile event at The Lowry, in which he talked about the Group’s resurgence, following a major consolidation of the brand and the subsequent acquisition of Somerfield.

Acknowledging the fact The Co-op has historically suffered at the hands of brand inconsistency - claiming it was ‘incoherent, fragmented and inefficient’ - Marks cited the merger with Rochdale-based United Co-operatives to form The Co-operative as a key milestone in the revival of the brand.

As the UK’s largest farmer, owning more than 50,000 acres of farming land, The Co-op is well placed with an ethical advantage to compete with major players in the industry.

With sales up 27 per cent in the 2009 interim results, The Co-op is well and truly back in the game, with a strong growth strategy which also includes the re-brand of 700 stores in 2010.

To top this, Manchester city centre will be the home of a new £200 million headquarters for The Co-op. It seems the equation of ethics and commercial value is a winner for the organisation, as it looks to 2010 with a real sense of achievement and an appetite for future growth.