The Co-operative’s £100m (€147m) brand overhaul today looked to have paid dividends as the group unveiled its biggest annual rise in membership in its 160-year history.

The UK's two biggest co-operatives have agreed the terms of a merger to form the world's largest consumer co-operative group.

A surprise entrant in the long-running takeover saga at British supermarket chain Somerfield revealed today it was no longer interested in bidding.

The bid battle for British supermarket group Somerfield took a new twist today when the country’s biggest regional co-operative group entered the fray.