This Is Guernsey

By Tom Edwards

New Co-op chief executive Jim Hopley. (Picture by Daniel Guerin, 0535981)

THE Co-op has added more than a third to its weekly takings in the island during the last 18 months, said new chief executive Jim Hopley.

The former retail controller has taken over from Allan Smith.

He said the society was more than happy with the way things were going, particularly with its new shops.

‘The store in the Markets has got off to a good start, Vazon has done extremely well and the new garage in the Forest has also proved very successful.

‘Our growth has also been helped by the fact that our St Martin’s store was redeveloped recently.’

The society was diversifying by branching out into the pharmacy trade in an effort to optimise its presence in Guernsey, Mr Hopley said.

‘We have partly taken over Lloyd’s Chemist in Le Pollet and have a deal going with Tony Weaver. It’s something we are looking to develop in the future.

‘Planning conditions may have been more favourable in Jersey in the past, but we are determined to redress the balance in Guernsey.’

Mr Hopley, 59, has worked for the Co-op for 37 years.

He comes from Plymouth and studied economics at Nottingham University in the 1960s.

After joining the society in 1971, he came to the Channel Islands in 1979 and has lived here since.

He is married to Janet and has a daughter, Emma, 24, and a granddaughter, Phoebe, 4.

‘I’ve been here so long I do feel like a real Channel Islander.

‘I worked with my predecessor, Allan Smith, for 29 years and I’m coming to the end of my career was well.

‘The business thought it would be useful for continuity for me to take over for a while so that the other people coming into the organisation had time to mature.

‘I’ve effectively been doing the job for the past 18 months because of Allan’s commitments outside work, so the transition has been very smooth.’

In his free time Mr Hopley enjoys working for his parish of St Peter in Jersey.

He was a member of the honorary police for 12 years and had been honorary treasurer of the Jersey Majorettes until it folded recently.

He is also vice-chairman of Shop Mobility and said that access for the disabled is something he feels passionate about.

‘My ambition is to bring full shop mobility to Guernsey, although I am aware of the restrictions of St Peter Port,’ he said.

The Co-op has a number of developments in the pipeline, including a new superstore at Leale’s Yard.

As well as growth, Mr Hopley said sustainable retail was at the forefront of its priorities.

‘We have always had the philosophy of buying as much local produce as possible, but one of the biggest frustrations is that we can’t get hold of enough.

‘We work with some fantastic local suppliers, but there is an untapped opportunity to sell more if only we could.

‘We are also putting solar panels onto the roof of our planned garage next to the Queen’s Hotel in St Martin’s and are looking at the possibility of having wind turbines too.

‘We have already put some on top of a multi-storey car park in Jersey.’

The Co-op has been in discussions with the Guernsey Climate Action Network about reducing the number of plastic bags it issues, said Mr Hopley.

‘We reduced our usage by 23% last year and we’re quite proud of that. But there is a long way to go and food retailers still give away far too many.’