Steve’s breakdown: The Co-operative Group is the UK’s largest mutual business, owned not by private shareholders but by over six million consumers. It is the UK’s fifth biggest food retailer, the leading convenience store operator and a major financial services provider, operating The Co-operative Bank, Britannia and The Co-operative Insurance.

MANCHESTER, UK: The Co-operative Group is understood to be reviewing its advertising and media accounts in a move that will put a number of agencies on alert.

Media Week reports that the Manchester-based company has instigated a review and is in discussions with its lead ad agency TBWA\Manchester and its media buyer Rocket.

Any such review would have a wide-ranging impact given that there are 14 agencies on the Co-op’s ‘creative support’ roster.

The following agencies were appointed alongside TBWA when the firm last reviewed its agency arrangements in January 2010.

SUPPORT CREATIVE: Refinery, Delineo, Dinosaur, GHMC (Bristol)
DIRECT MARKETING: TDA LLP (Cheltenham), Refinery
BRAND IDENTITY: The Chase
DIGITAL DESIGN: Amaze, Rapp (Edinburgh)
ARTWORK/PRODUCTION: APS, Papyrus, Fresh Create, Artwork Express

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