Co-operative wholesale society

The theory, practice and history of the CWS in the pioneering British Co-operative Movement was recorded and expounded by Beatrice Potter in 1891,[1] revised by Carr-Saunders et al. in 1938,[2] to document its economic, social and political dimensions.

The best historical examples of this are the English CWS and the Scottish SCWS, which are the predecessors of the 21st century Co-operative Group.

Indeed, in Britain, the terms Co-operative Wholesale Society and CWS are used to refer to this specific organisation rather than the organisational form.

However, the English CWS has inspired many imitations around the world (including, for example, the New South Wales Co-operative Wholesale Society that have also described themselves as co-operative wholesale societies.

Any profits (or surpluses) made by a CWS should be paid as dividends to its owners, the proprietary co-operative consumer societies.