Triplen Divi Spearheads GBP200m Christmas Cracker for Co-Operative and Somerfield Customers

MANCHESTER, England, November 30 - Co-operative and Somerfield have today (30 November) unwrapped Christmas
price cuts and a promotional package worth over GBP200m in savings to their
customers.

The wide-ranging offers, including a first-ever triple Dividend, are
available at around 3,000 Co-operative and Somerfield food stores across the
UK, with the famous Co-op Divi available to Somerfield customers for the
first time from today.

The triple Divi offer, which is available on key lines, is equivalent to
a 6p in the pound saving for shoppers - at least three times more valuable
than other food retailers' reward schemes - and the Divi is still the only
scheme that allows customers to take the saving in cash.

The GBP200m giveaway is the mutual retailer's biggest ever Christmas
cracker - made possible by The Co-operative Group's acquisition of the
Somerfield supermarket chain earlier this year.

Said Peter Marks, Group Chief Executive, The Co-operative Group: "With
rising fuel prices and financial pressures hitting household budgets this
Christmas, customers are looking for a great deal locally. The acquisition of
Somerfield has enabled us to offer them our best value deals ever across
thousands of products, and, for the first time, Somerfield customers will be
able to benefit from the famous Divi, too!"

Christmas offers available at both The Co-operative and Somerfield stores
include half-price roasting joints (beef, pork and lamb), half-price smoked
salmon and king prawns, half-price Champagne and wine, and half-price premium
Christmas puddings.

Other offers include GBP5 off Nestle Quality Street Jars, any three packs
of Co-operative frozen party food for GBP5, a third off selected malt
whiskies and two for GBP16 deals on selected large packs of beer.

Meanwhile, customers will also be able to take advantage of a range of
coupons, worth a total of GBP60 million, offering discounts on their shopping
bill next time around.

Notes to Editors:

Triple dividend will be available on all confectionery and biscuits from
30 Nov to 12 Dec inclusive; on all beers, wines & spirits from 13 to 19 Dec
inc and from 27 Dec to 2 Jan 2010 inc, and on all fresh meat and fruit &
vegetables from 20 to 26 Dec inc. NB membership is not currently available at
Somerfield petrol forecourts.

Normally members earn one point for every pound spent in food stores and
each year the value of a membership point is determined by how much profit
the Group makes. For the last annual payment, the value of a point was set at
2p. So, if a member earned 100 points they received GBP2.00. Based on these
values, triple dividend would be worth GBP6.00.

The payments are paid in the form of vouchers, which can be spent or
cashed in the stores, or directly into a bank account.

Share of profits payment are paid to members every six months, usually in
mid June and late November. Membership costs GBP1, which is deducted from the
first dividend payment.

Sample price cuts and promotions below.

    Sample price cuts and promotions:
                                                         NOW          WAS

    Somerfield Extra Large Beef Joint                  GBP5.00      GBP10.00
    (Per kg - 16 Dec - 22 Dec inc)                     HALF PRICE

    The Co-operative Elmwood Whole Fresh Chicken       GBP1.47      GBP3.09
    (Per kg - 2 Dec - 8 Dec inc)                       HALF PRICE

    The Co-operative Scottish Smoked Salmon 200g       GBP2.75      GBP5.99
    (2 Dec - 3 Jan inc)                                HALF PRICE

    Somerfield - Young's King Prawns 125g              GBP2.10      GBP4.20
    (2 Dec - 3 Jan inc)                                HALF PRICE

    The following are available in both Co-operative and Somerfield stores:

    The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Christmas      GBP2.74      GBP5.49
    Pudding 454g                                       HALF PRICE
    (16 Dec - 22 Dec inc)                              

    Cazanove Grand Apparat Champagne NV (France) 75cl  GBP15.00     GBP30.00
    (2 Dec - 3 Jan inc)                                HALF PRICE

    Nestle Quality Street Jar 900g                     GBP4.50      GBP9.50
    (Available now until 3 Jan inc)                    BETTER THAN HALF PRICE

    Gran Tradicion Vintage Cava 75cl                   GBP4.99      GBP10.49
    (Available now until 3 Jan inc)                    BETTER THAN HALF PRICE

    Arniston Bay Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon/   GBP3.99      GBP7.99
    Sauvignon Blanc/Shiraz Rose 75cl                   HALF PRICE
    (2 Dec - 3 Jan inc)

    Gabbia D'Oro Prosecco Frizzante Veneto 75cl        GBP4.99      GBP9.99
    (Available now until 3 Jan inc)                    HALF PRICE

    Bulmers Original 8 x 568ml/                        GBP10.99 each
    Stella Artois 15 x 284ml/Budweiser 15 x 330ml/     BUY ANY 2 FOR GBP16
    Caffreys Irish Ale 12 x 440ml/Tennents Lager/
    Stella Artois 4%/Carlsberg Lager/
    Strongbow Cider 15 x 440ml)
    (Available now until 3 Jan inc)

    The Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year Old Malt Whisky 70cl GBP18.79     GBP28.19

    Original Glenmorangie 10 Year Old Malt 70cl        GBP19.66     GBP31.49

    Isle of Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 70cl   GBP16.79     GBP25.19
    (Available now until 3 Jan inc)                    THIRD OFF SELECTED
                                                       MALTS

    The Co-operative Frozen Party Food Range           GBP1.99
    (Available now until 3 Jan inc)                    BUY ANY 3 FOR GBP5.00

    Please note, not all products are available in all stores.

    For further information, please contact:

    Michelle Henderson                                       27 November 2009
    Public Relations Manager - Food
    The Co-operative Group   Tel: +44(0)161-827-5290   Mob: +44(0)7770-925958

    Martin Henderson
    Head of Corporate PR
    The Co-operative Group   Tel: +44(0)161-827-5292   Mob: +44(0)7770-925959

For further information, please contact: Michelle Henderson, Public Relations Manager - Food, The Co-operative Group, Tel: +44(0)161-827-5290, Mob: +44(0)7770-925958; Martin Henderson, Head of Corporate PR, The Co-operative Group, Tel: +44(0)161-827-5292, Mob: +44(0)7770-925959