Founded in 1874 as the Allendale Industrial and Provident Society, the co-operative is one of the few remaining British co-operative retail societies still operating from a single village store.

[1][2] The co-operative is incorporated as a registered society, and as a consumer co-operative the society is owned and democratically controlled by its members who are its customers.

[3] Alongside general meetings the members elect a board of directors to oversee the management of the society.

[5] In addition to the store the co-operative also operates a delivery service for the surrounding rural area, as well as leasing out another shop in the village to a butchers and some residential property.

[2][1][4][6] As an independent society the co-operative is able to take advantage of the purchasing power of the national retail co-operative wholesaler, Federal Retail and Trading Services, while also sourcing products from local and alternative suppliers.