On Tuesday 7th July 2020 the Island's Chief Minister, Howard Quayle MHK, unveiled this plaque to mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Manx Co-operative Society's first shop in Duke Street in Douglas. The text on the plaque is shown below:
co
op
MANX CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD
The first Manx Co-operative Store
opened on this site in Duke Street, Douglas
on 7th July 1920.
The Co-op has continued to serve the people
of the Isle of Man for over 100 years through its
network of stores across the island.
This plaque was unveiled by
Chief Minister Hon Howard Quayle MHK
on 7th July 2020
to commemorate the centenary year of the
Manx Co-operative Society.
'Isle of Man triskelion'Manx Co-operative SocietyThe Manx Co-operative Society opened its first shop on the Isle of Man, in Duke Street on 7th July 2020.
It was a completely new concept for the island and offered customers the opportunity to become members and receive a dividend or ‘divi’ as it became known.
The Manx Co-operative Society like others in the UK was based on the principles adopted by the Rochdale Pioneers who opened their first shop in 1844.
Today the Manx Co-op remains a local business serving local people with a network of stores across the Island.
'The Manx Co-op supports local farmers and producers through its sales of Isle of Man Creamery, itself a farmer’s co-operative; Ramsey Bakery, which uses only flour milled at Laxey Glen Mills from wheat grown by Manx farmers, and IOM Meat Products.
There are now 25,000 Co-op members on the island, each receiving a 5% reward every time they purchase own brand good and services, with the Co-op donating a further 1% to local causes.
Forty-eight local causes on the island have received a total of £300,000 since Co-op re-launched its membership scheme in 2016. Every time your shop at a Co-op store you are enabling more help to be given to those who need it, across the island.
Local causes to share in the funding boost this year are: The Isle of Man Live at Home Scheme; QEII High School; Manx Wildlife Trust; Craig’s Heartstrong; The Children’s Centre and, the Manx Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital.
Source: Extract from a recent [July 2020] edition of the Isle of Man Courier (
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Hon. Robert Howard Quayle MHKHoward Quayle became the Isle of Man's Chief Minister on 4 October 2016 following the General Election of that year at which his predecessor as Chief Minister, Alan Bell, did not stand. He had previously served as Minister for Health and Social Care.
He was first elected as a Member of the House of Keys in 2011 for the Middle constituency and was re-elected for the same constituency in 2016.
Howard Quayle 'began his working life as a civil servant in the Treasury and Local Government planning before moving into the finance sector, working for the NFU Mutual Insurance Group and Clerical Medical.
Eventually he followed his father into farming where he has built up an award-winning herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle. Mr. Quayle was Vice-President of the Manx National Farmers’ Union for two years before taking over as President, from 2005 to 2010. He was the Union’s public face, involved fighting the industry’s corner at meetings all over Europe, including Brussels and involved in discussions with many Members of the European Parliament as well as the Agricultural Commissioner.' (
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