Co-op announced its largest single investment in pricing of £70 million, as it extended its 'member-only' prices last month.

The retail store has advanced its 'member only' pricing across nearly 200 everyday essential lines, including milk, eggs and bread, giving shoppers a chance to save £500 a year** by being a Co-op Member.

Become a Co-op member here.

The retailer has also lowered its standard retail prices across more than 600 lines, ensuring that they are in line with or cheaper than other national convenience stores.

Matt Hood, Managing Director for Co-op Food said: " "Whilst food inflation is starting to slow, household budgets remain under huge pressure, so this major price investment will make a real and tangible difference for millions of Co-op customers and members.

"This £70m investment is the most significant ever made by a convenience retailer, allowing us to turbo charge our member pricing proposition for the millions of our members who shop with us every day, by tailoring the price cuts to those key lines we know our members buy the most.

"We are focused on delivering member-value in a way that will make the biggest difference to their weekly budgets, and I'm clear there should be no compromise on quality and value by shopping in convenience.

"This is not a loyalty scheme but rather the Co-op difference in action, whereby the people who own our business, our members, benefit every time they shop." 

The move sees Co-op – with more than 2,400 food stores and 4.58 million active members – accelerate its member price benefits to provide new, lower 'member-only' prices on the everyday essential products that are the most shopped by their convenience shoppers, giving Co-op Members a chance to save up to 11% on retail prices with Co-op British Milk one pint at 85p, six Co-op free range eggs at £1.40 , whilst a Co-op sliced loaf will be 76p.

This follows the introduction of 'member only offers' in April whereby Co-op members can get exclusive lower priced promotions, an initiative which has seen nearly 40,000 new members sign up every month to take advantage of the deals, as Co-op targets to grow its member base by a million more members over the next five years.

The member-only offers will continue, alongside member only pricing, providing even more opportunity for savings and means a shopper could save on average £500 a year** as a Co-op Member.

Underpinning this investment is the core proposition of Co-op's membership whereby:

• Members own the business and play an intrinsic part in the governance of the organisation
• Members enjoy a wide number of benefits including money back on own brand purchases, personalised offers and gamification via the Co-op app, pre-sale opportunities for Co-op Live and music festival tickets
• Co-op members help raise significant funds donated by Co-op to fund thousands of community causes, every year. £116m has been donated to communities since 2016

When you buy selected Co-op products and services, 2p for every £1 you spend goes into your Co-op Membership account and Co-op gives the same amount to support community organisations and local causes.