AMBITIOUS 1,000 STORE DIGITAL SCREEN ROLLOUT PRAISED BY RETAIL GIANT AS PART OF AWARD CEREMONY

“It just had to be Commercial…” 

Not our words, but ones we were both thrilled and honoured to hear when being awarded with the title of Co-operation Champion at the Co-op Difference Awards. 

It was Co-op Chief Financial Officer, Rachel Izzard, who heaped the praise when presenting the award at Tuesday’s GNFR Conference at Co-op HQ in Manchester. 

Co-op and Commercial have partnered on a nationwide digital screen installation project. One that will soon see the 1,000th screen go online.  

Speaking about her conversations with colleagues prior to the event, Rachel said she kept hearing the same answer as to who should win the Co-operation Champion prize. 

And when it came to announcing the winner, she told Commercial Business Transformation Specialists Rachel Temple and Max Hindmarch, there was a clear choice. 

It was a view shared by Chief Procurement Officer, Imran Rasul. He praised the partnership, which has seen the digital screens transform the way the retailer advertises to customers. 

He said: “Commercial partnered with Co-op to deliver our Digital Screens project – an ambitious rollout across our store estate.  

“These screens are more than just displays. They’re a new way for us to connect with our members. They help us enhance in-store experience, and offer targeted advertising opportunities to our brand partners.  

“This logistically complex project was handled with precision, care, and true co-operative spirit. From the initial tender, through scoping, and to installation.  

“Clear, consistent communication and a shared commitment to success made all the difference.  

“Well done, Commercial – and thank you for showing what great collaboration looks like.”  

Award winning rollout

The ambitious project has seen Commercial’s specialist smart technology engineers pre-programme hundreds of displays. Next, installation teams managed a nationwide rollout. 

To date, 671 screens have been installed across two phases. A further 329 are scheduled to be completed by October, in the third and final phase. 

Commercial Co-founder and Managing Director, Simone Hindmarch, said the award win was due to a fantastic team effort. Vital to this was the partnership created with the Co-op. 

She said: “We have been proud to work alongside the Co-op on this exciting project. We are helping them to embed smart technology into their nationwide network of stores. 

“We have seen the retail world evolve at a truly astonishing pace in recent years. Digital technology has been at the forefront of this change. 

“The Co-op have been the perfect partners for us, and I know our team have really relished the chance to work alongside so many like-minded people in making this project such a success. 

“The award is a real honour for us. As a company who is passionate about sustainability and social value, to be recognised by one of the standard bearers in that area is fantastic.”