OurCoop wins Best Use of Technology at Retail Industry Awards 2026
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OurCoop has been named winner for Best Use of Technology at the Retail Industry Awards 2026, recognising its innovative approach to using technology to transform the Member experience.
The award recognises OurCoop’s Reward££s proposition, developed in partnership with Lobyco, the loyalty company from fellow co-operative Coop Denmark, which puts Members in control of how they benefit from their membership through a new app and digital Member Pot.
A fairer way to reward Members#
Reward££s was launched in September 2025 following feedback from Members who wanted a fairer and more flexible way to be rewarded. Instead of Member-only prices, Members earn Reward££s as they shop, which are added to their Member Pot. They can then choose whether to spend their rewards on their next shop or save them for a future occasion.
OurCoop was one of the first retailers to move away from traditional tiered and Member-only pricing, instead introducing a model where everyone pays the same fair price in store, while Members receive additional value back through Reward££s.
Working with Lobyco, OurCoop introduced technology designed specifically around the needs of its Members, including weekly games, challenges and personalised offers. The app creates a more interactive way to engage with membership, while giving Members greater choice over how and when they use their rewards.
“Digitising loyalty, while keeping the Members and OurCoop’s values at the core is what has led to this success. It’s clear that the app and the Lobyco Nexus Platform has led to a more engaged Member base, driven by the higher value that Members are now receiving. It has been brilliantly planned and executed and it’s great to see the success recognised.”
Results since launch#
Since its launch, the programme has delivered strong engagement, with £4.9 million in rewards issued, £3.9 million spent by Members. With 300,000 app downloads and weekly games attract 160,000 users.
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Charlotte Castille, Head of Membership at OurCoop, said:
Reward££s represents a significant change in the way we deliver value to our Members. We listened to what Members told us they wanted and used coop-powered technology to give them greater choice and flexibility. Winning Best Use of Technology is recognition of the teams who have worked to create a digital experience that’s not only engaging, but reflects what being a Member of a co-operative in 2026 is all about - having a stake in the Society and being able to benefit from it.
OurCoop was also shortlisted for Community Retailer of the Year, recognising the Society’s work to create positive social impact in the communities it serves.
As a co-operative owned by more than one million Members, supporting local communities is at the heart of OurCoop’s approach. Through its partnership with Olio, OurCoop has also redistributed 2.4 million food items, helping to reduce food waste while supporting people in local communities. Members have additionally donated more than £500,000 to local good causes and OurCoop’s charity partner, Samaritans.
The Society’s community work also includes programmes designed to create pathways into employment, including Fairer Futures, Fairer Access to Work and Bright Future, alongside support for schools, food banks, charities and local good causes.
About OurCoop#
OurCoop is the UK’s largest independent co-operative Society, with more than one million Members and 12,000 colleagues operating in communities nationwide. It was formed by bringing together Central Co-op, The Midcounties Co-operative and Chelmsford Star Co-op to create a stronger, member-owned organisation rooted in shared co-operative values.
About Lobyco#
Lobyco is a loyalty and promotions company born from retail, with clients across North America, EMEA and APAC. Our platform, Nexus, is a modular, API-first and AI-powered solution that helps retailers turn loyalty into a real driver of customer engagement and revenue, connecting promotions, loyalty mechanics, and a white-label app, all through one no-code interface.