The decision is part of a wider change to the Co-op’s sourcing policy, which involves ending its relationships with countries where there are internationally recognised community-wide human rights abuses and violations of international law.
Israel was among 17 countries of concern that have been identified by the international community, with Co-op pledging to end the use of ingredients from these locations. The list also included Russia, which Co-op has boycotted since the start of its invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.
The trading with Israel motion that was supported at last month’s AGM urged the Co-op board to “show moral courage and leadership” by taking all Israeli products off the shelves in response to its ongoing assault on Gaza.
Human rights organisations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have concluded that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of defence Yoav Gallant for their role in war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Meanwhile, the motion cited a Lancet study from July 2024 which said the Palestinian death toll could exceed 186,000.
United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres has also said that the “entire population of Gaza is facing the risk of famine” as a result of Israel’s blockade on aid entering the strip.
‘Values in action’
The new sourcing policy rests on three criteria relating to human rights abuses, Co-op’s ability to alleviate suffering and its integrity as a business with “co-operative values and principles”.
The retailer added that Co-op members had made their views clear through surveys, engagement and motions that “conflict is one of their biggest concerns”.
Commenting on the new policy, Co-op board chair Debbie White said: “This policy, which has been developed over the past year as a part of our ‘Hate Divides Communities, Co-operation Builds Them’ campaign, is a clear demonstration of our co-operative values in action, where the voices of our members have been listened to and then acted upon.
“We are committed, where we can, to removing products and ingredients from our shelves which are sourced from those countries where the international consensus demonstrates there is not alignment with what happens in those countries and our co-operative values and principles.
“As a business, we have a long-standing legacy of doing the right thing, supporting Fairtrade and championing ethical sourcing and this policy is a natural progression of this. Our Hate Divides Communities, Co-operation Builds Them campaign has once again positioned our Co-op with those who advocate for and build peace.”
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which supported the initial motion on trading with Israel, welcomed the move by Co-op.
“All supermarkets must now follow suit,” the organisation said on X.
“By selling Israeli products, shops are supporting Israel’s genocide, military occupation and apartheid against Palestinians. All Israeli goods must be taken off the shelves.”
The full list of countries is as follows: Afghanistan, Belarus, Central African Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Haiti, Iran, Israel, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen.
