Co-op Taps Former McDonald’s Executive to Lead Digital Transformation

Braithwaite, whose resume includes senior roles at Compass Group and Gala Coral Group, will oversee the integration of technology into the core of Co-op’s member-owner services. He views the position as a chance to combine the company's commercial scale with its established social mission, emphasizing the need to build on existing digital momentum.

Simultaneously, the retailer is readying its new Co-op Catalyst platform, developed in partnership with eStoreBrands. Set to open to suppliers in 2026, the tool provides granular access to quick commerce data from coop.co.uk and delivery partners. By offering insights into product performance, search positioning, and store-level availability, the platform aims to standardize category management across a channel that now reaches approximately 90% of the UK. Operations and QCommerce Director Kate McCrae noted that the initiative is designed to unlock growth by allowing suppliers to move beyond simple site monitoring toward data-backed strategy.