New Co-op chief crowned queen of the UK’s grocers

Retail veteran Jo Whitfield became the country’s most senior woman grocer today as she took the reins at the Co-operative Group’s sprawling food business.

Whitfield, who steps up from finance director, becomes the leader of the UK’s sixth-biggest supermarket with £7 billion in annual sales and around 2500 convenience stores.

The chartered accountant has previous experience with Asda, Matalan and Northern Foods.

The Co-op, which stands behind the big four supermarkets and discounter Aldi in sales, will maintain its focus on smaller stores and its own-label goods.

But the chain is also eyeing a move into wholesaling, supplying goods to some McColls stores, as well as petrol forecourt franchises.

She had been running the business since February when her predecessor Steve Murrells became overall chief executive of the mutual.

Murrells said: “She is able to marry commercial acumen with the need to do business the Co-op way.”