Co-op Taps Industry Veteran Alex Dower to Lead Retail Expansion

Dower’s arrival signals a strategic pivot for the group, which aims to sharpen its competitive edge through accelerated growth and deeper integration of digital channels. His mandate includes refining the customer proposition and bolstering the retailer’s quick commerce capabilities, ensuring the brand remains relevant within the communities it serves.

Kate Allum, Interim Group CEO, noted that Dower’s leadership philosophy aligns with the cooperative’s core values of community-focused service. For his part, Dower expressed a commitment to building upon the existing foundations of the business, balancing the need for rapid technological innovation with the traditional community-centric model that defines the Co-op brand.