IMHO the Co-0p is run by amateurs and staffed by numpties. Their latest is the slogan 'Loved by us' on their packaging. Oh yes? Why is it loved by the Co-Op? Because they can buy it in cheap and can put a big mark-up on it? How about selling stuff that's loved by the customers instead? I think they've shot themselves in the foot on that one.
Some years back we had a small Co-Op convenience store nearby. One day my wife asked the manager if they sold fresh garlic. "No." he replied. "We only have the bulbs." Doh!
Another failing is that what stores stock is dictated by head offices, not the store staff, who have to apologise to customers for not having what they want, but can do nothing about it. Some Christmases ago I asked in their local supermarket why they had no cider vinegar. The reply was that they had limited shelf space, and couldn't stock everything. I pointed out that 8 inches of their shelf space was being taken up by bottles of sherry vinegar, and that if they were lucky they might sell one bottle of it over the Christmas period.
Co-Op pricing? Our nearest big supermarkets are some 6 miles away. Even for a few items, and taking the cost of fuel for a 12 mile round trip into consideration, it adds up costing less to buy from them than from our local Co-Op. Again, head offices set the prices, but they don't have to face the resulting customer complaints as store staff do.
Our Co-Op is disliked by many of the local population, who state that they look forward to the day that a major supermarket decides to open in the town.