Global cooperative celebration underway in Manchester, UK
On Friday 4 and Saturday July 5, delegates will move to Rochdale, the post-industrial town 12 miles North East of Manchester city centre where the Rochdale Pioneers opened the store that would become the blueprint for cooperation around the world
LONDON, July 3, 2025 –– During the first week of July, cooperators from around the world are converging on Manchester, UK, for the International Cooperative Alliance [ICA] General Assembly, Festival of Cooperation and the UK’s Co-op Congress.
This is a very special time for cooperatives given the #IYC2025 – and a special time for Greater Manchester as the world’s cooperatives return to Rochdale, where modern cooperation began 180 years ago. The week will culminate on #Coopsday2025, held annually on the first Saturday of July.
“The International Year celebrates how cooperatives build a better world. In Greater Manchester, 180 years ago, the Rochdale Pioneers started this journey by building a better world for their community,” said Ariel Guarco, President of the ICA. “To recognise this, we look forward to bringing more than 400 delegates from 60 countries to the region to learn, share and celebrate together.”
“I’m thrilled that the UK – and Greater Manchester – will host the global cooperative delegation this week,” said Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK. It’s wonderful that we get this opportunity to showcase the UK movement, especially during the UN International Year of Cooperatives.
“We’ve planned an extra special UK Co-op Congress to mark the occasion – with a powerful line-up of high-profile speakers from across the cooperative economy and beyond.”
Alongside Co-operatives UK – the federation and business network for cooperatives in the country – direct ICA members from the UK include retailer the Midcounties Cooperative and tech organisation VME Coop.
“It is inspiring to see the ICA return to Greater Manchester, birthplace of the Rochdale Pioneers, just as the ICA looks to embark on its new strategy for 2026-2030, said VME CEO, Stephen Gill. “VME Coop proudly joins our UK partners in welcoming delegates to the city that showed the world how shared ownership can build fair, resilient economies for all.”
Midcounties CEO, Phil Ponsonby said: “Our cooperative values and principles have evolved with the times over the last 180 years, but they still act as a solid foundation for building a fairer, more sustainable and ethical future. And this is true on a global scale. We are looking forward to welcoming the world to Rochdale and Manchester during the UN International Year of Cooperatives, and sharing together how the global movement can and is helping to ‘build a better world’.”
During the week, a number of events will take place in Manchester City Centre, including a full ICA Board Meeting on Tuesday, the ICA General Assembly on Wednesday, and G20, ICETT and CM50 meetings on Thursday [today], alongside a number of statutory meetings of ICA regional and sectoral bodies and thematic committees.
Parallel to this, a number of delegate expereiences have been planned, with visits to local cooperative organisations including Hulme Community Garden Centre, Emerge Recycling, Unicorn Grocery Workers’ Co-operative, FC United and a Co-op Academy school. There will also be a series of talks and workshops giving a perspective on UK co-operative activities.
The General Assembly and delegate reception is being hosted by the UK’s Co-op Group, the largest retail society in the UK, and one of 17 major consumer cooperatives, with many of the meetings taking place at its headquarters at 1 Angel Square.
“The values of cooperation were born in the North West [of England] and they remain just as relevant today,” said Shirine Khoury-Haq, Co-op Group CEO. “This is a moment to reflect on where we came from and to show how we are still working with communities, both here and around the world, to build a fairer future. What’s more, this year demonstrates how cooperatives are leading the way in creating global economic connections that benefit everyone.”
On Friday 4 and Saturday July 5, delegates will move to Rochdale, the post-industrial town 12 miles North East of Manchester city centre where the Rochdale Pioneers opened the store that would become the blueprint for cooperation around the world.
The UK’s Co-op Congress will take place in Rochdale Town Hall, alongside a Youth Summit on Saturday – the International Day of Cooperatives.
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