Customers at the Scotmid food store in South Queensferry were greeted by staff in unusual headgear today (12 January).
Staff at the store were wearing hats of many nations - from a
Turkish fez to an American cowboy hat - to mark the start of the
International Year of Co-operatives, and piecing together a giant
global jigsaw to celebrate the global successes of
co-operation.
Designated by the United Nations as a celebratory year, 2012
International Year of Co-operatives provides the opportunity for
the one billion co-operators across the world to highlight how,
through co-operative values and principles, "Co-operative
Enterprises Build a Better World".
Co-operatives provide over 100 million jobs around the world,
and Scotmid operates over 340 trading outlets in Scotland, Northern
Ireland and the north of England, employing more than 5,000 people
with an annual turnover of nearly £380 million.
Aidan O'Sullivan, store manager at South Queensferry, said:
"With stores in so many areas, we are committed to the communities
in which we trade, and we support local charities and good causes
via our Community Grant Fund. But, as well as supporting the local
community, we lead the way on Fairtrade and are part of a much
wider community, the huge, international movement of
co-operation.
"Thanks to the International Year of Co-operatives, everyone
from the South Queensferry food store to the Ibakari fishing
co-operative in Japan can celebrate the responsible way we do
business."
Co-operativesUK, the body representing co-operative
organisations in theUK, will be supporting its members with a
year-long programme of activities and materials aimed at raising
awareness of theUKco-operative sector throughout 2012.