A Conversation with… Debbie Robinson

Debbie Robinson is Chief Executive at Central Co-op (UK)

Tell us about your organisation?

Central is a consumer cooperative – a truly cooperative society with a rich heritage and a board of highly committed individuals who want to push the co-op agenda.

One example is Our Malawi Project. Malawi is the fourth-poorest country in the world, yet it produces peanuts, macadamia nuts, rice, and oils. Our project takes fair trade to the next level by ensuring producers are organised into co-ops, and developing a circular economy that keeps wealth creation in the communities that are producing the goods. In the UK, we’re fortunate to have a government that is committed to doubling the size of the co-op and mutual sector, which will make that impact even stronger.

How do you think being a co-op makes you better at what you do?

It’s because we’re guided by our values and principles set down 180 years ago; words like self-help, self-responsibility, equity, democracy, these are still so relevant today. People in our communities are looking for a voice and a chance, and that’s what co-ops provide: people coming together with a common purpose to make a difference.

Beyond Malawi, what other examples show your impact?

We do a lot of listening, using questionnaires and our membership app to run quick surveys. This brings democracy to life in everyday decisions.

But our members also care deeply about the environment. That’s why we developed a green energy self-sufficiency initiative. We’ve invested over £9 million in solar panels on our buildings. Alongside other independent societies, we signed a unique 10-year power purchase agreement for wind energy in the Thames Estuary. Already, that’s enough to power 1,200 households. Ultimately, we want to produce enough green energy not just for our business, but also to offer to our members and customers. It’s a long-term commitment to sustainable energy.

Why did you join the CM50?

Because I see it as a really progressive group – one that is not just showing commitment, but looking for action. I think it’s crucial that the biggest co-ops come together and hold hands with smaller societies in each country. It’s not just about big co-ops doing wonderful things; it’s about having an international voice and making a real difference.

One thing I’d love to see is co-ops connected in the digital era, perhaps through cloud technology or an ethical Amazon-style purchasing platform. That way, co-op-to-co-op trade could be guaranteed, with ethical standards built in, right down to members and consumers. We’ve been around longer than Amazon or eBay – wouldn’t it be fantastic if we caught up by creating a global co-op platform to really ignite the cooperative economy?

What do you see as the ultimate aim of the group?

For me, the purpose of CM50 is to grow economic participation, strengthen co-ops for resilience, and expand the cooperative economy worldwide. Doha is a pivotal moment, marking the end of the International Year of Cooperatives as designated by the UN. Opportunities like this don’t come often, so we must focus on concrete deliverables that make a difference globally.

How do cooperatives build a better world?

By listening to members and responding to their needs. The surpluses we generate from goods and services are redistributed across producers and back to the members whose ideas helped shape them. That is the beauty of the cooperative movement.