Scotmid
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Midland Co-operative Society Limited, trading as Scotmid Co-operative, is an independent retail consumers' co-operative which originated in the Scottish Midlands, particularly Edinburgh
and the Lothians. It was formed in 1981 by a merger of the Dalziel Society of Motherwell with the St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Society
which had been established in 1859. With over 5,000 staff, the chain now has nearly 200 supermarket
s and five perfume shops in Scotland, and over 140 Semichem
health and beauty shops throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland
, and parts of England
Like most retail consumers' co-operatives in the UK, ScotMid is incorporated as an Industrial and Provident Society
, regulated by the Financial Services Authority
.
In 1968, Leith Provident's 1911 department store on Great Junction Street was still operating a then unusual overhead wire system that transported a customer's payment and dividend
number from the sales assistant to the cashier, returning change and receipt.
In 1995, Scotmid acquired the Scottish health and beauty retail chain Semi-Chem (since rebranded Semichem), followed in 1999 by the similar Northern Ireland business, Options. Also in 1999, Scotmid merged with Prestonpans Co-operative Society.
In 2000, Scotmid closed all 20 of its non-food department store
s, which had made losses for five successive years.
In 2003, Scotmid acquired Wakefield
-based national distribution business, M & S Toiletries, which it sold in 2008 to Sert UK.
In the early 21st century, Scotmid acquired several competing convenience stores in Scotland: Alldays, 64 SPAR
stores and Morning, Noon & Night.
Scotmid added Dundas Fyfe funeral directors to its funeral operation. The head office moved from Fountainbridge
, Edinburgh
, where it had been since 1859, to a new purpose-built office near Newbridge
.
The Fragrance House was founded by Scotmid in 2009. It specializes in perfume and by 2011 had five stores in Scotland with plans to expand to England and Northern Ireland.
in 1991, by retailing executive Eddie Thompson
(who became chairman of Dundee United F.C.
in 2002.) It operated morning, noon and night.
In 2004, Thompson sold the company to Scotmid for £30 million.
This allowed Scotmid to add the 50 Morning, Noon & Night stores to its portfolio letting it expand into areas of Scotland, such as the Highlands, where it didn't previously have any stores.
s Top 50 independent grocery retailers. Owner Jim Botterill sold his 51 stores to Scotmid in November 2010 for an undisclosed sum, enabling Scotmid to extend its territory south and west.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and the Lothians. It was formed in 1981 by a merger of the Dalziel Society of Motherwell with the St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Society
St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Society
The St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Society opened its first shop in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1859 as a Consumers' co-operative. This society was part of the movement started by the Rochdale Pioneers in 1844, and followed the Rochdale Principles with the aim of providing decent food at affordable prices...
which had been established in 1859. With over 5,000 staff, the chain now has nearly 200 supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
s and five perfume shops in Scotland, and over 140 Semichem
Semichem
Semichem are a British-based retailer that specialises in a wide variety of different household items, in particular focusing on perfume, health and other beauty products....
health and beauty shops throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, and parts of England
Like most retail consumers' co-operatives in the UK, ScotMid is incorporated as an Industrial and Provident Society
Industrial and Provident Society
An industrial and provident society is a legal entity for a trading business or voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and New Zealand...
, regulated by the Financial Services Authority
Financial Services Authority
The Financial Services Authority is a quasi-judicial body responsible for the regulation of the financial services industry in the United Kingdom. Its board is appointed by the Treasury and the organisation is structured as a company limited by guarantee and owned by the UK government. Its main...
.
History
Dividend
Dividends are payments made by a corporation to its shareholder members. It is the portion of corporate profits paid out to stockholders. When a corporation earns a profit or surplus, that money can be put to two uses: it can either be re-invested in the business , or it can be distributed to...
number from the sales assistant to the cashier, returning change and receipt.
In 1995, Scotmid acquired the Scottish health and beauty retail chain Semi-Chem (since rebranded Semichem), followed in 1999 by the similar Northern Ireland business, Options. Also in 1999, Scotmid merged with Prestonpans Co-operative Society.
In 2000, Scotmid closed all 20 of its non-food department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
s, which had made losses for five successive years.
In 2003, Scotmid acquired Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
-based national distribution business, M & S Toiletries, which it sold in 2008 to Sert UK.
In the early 21st century, Scotmid acquired several competing convenience stores in Scotland: Alldays, 64 SPAR
SPAR
Spar , trades from approximately 12400 stores in 34 countries worldwide and is the world's largest independent voluntary retail trading chain. Spar was founded in the Netherlands in 1932 by retailer Adriaan Van Well and now, through its affiliate organisations, operates through most European...
stores and Morning, Noon & Night.
Scotmid added Dundas Fyfe funeral directors to its funeral operation. The head office moved from Fountainbridge
Fountainbridge
Fountainbridge is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland, a short distance west of the city centre, adjoining Tollcross to the east, Bruntsfield to the south, Dalry to the west and Haymarket to the north....
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where it had been since 1859, to a new purpose-built office near Newbridge
Newbridge, Edinburgh
Newbridge is a suburb of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is south of Kirkliston. Newbridge had a total population of 1,013 at the 2001 Census.-Local amenities:...
.
The Fragrance House was founded by Scotmid in 2009. It specializes in perfume and by 2011 had five stores in Scotland with plans to expand to England and Northern Ireland.
Morning, Noon & Night
Morning Noon & Night was a Scottish convenience store chain set up in DundeeDundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
in 1991, by retailing executive Eddie Thompson
Eddie Thompson
Edward Henry "Eddie" Thompson, OBE was a Scottish businessman, he was the chairman of Scottish football club Dundee United and a well known figure in the Scottish retail industry....
(who became chairman of Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
in 2002.) It operated morning, noon and night.
In 2004, Thompson sold the company to Scotmid for £30 million.
This allowed Scotmid to add the 50 Morning, Noon & Night stores to its portfolio letting it expand into areas of Scotland, such as the Highlands, where it didn't previously have any stores.
Botterills Convenience Stores
Botterills Convenience Stores was a Scottish convenience store founded in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire in the 1950s by the Botterill family. Trading under the name of "Botterills of Blantyre" and latterly under the SPAR banner, it ranked 19th in The GrocerThe Grocer
The Grocer is a British market leading magazine devoted to grocery sales, published by William Reed Business Media. It has been published since 1862. Its readership encompasses every aspect of the industry, from directors of the large multiples to independent retailers...
s Top 50 independent grocery retailers. Owner Jim Botterill sold his 51 stores to Scotmid in November 2010 for an undisclosed sum, enabling Scotmid to extend its territory south and west.
External links
- www.scotmid.com – corporate site
- History of Scotmid
- www.scotmid.co.uk – convenience stores site
- www.scotmidfunerals.co.uk – funeral directors
- Semichem – health and beauty shops
- The Fragrance House – perfume shops