Why 'coop' ?

The International Co-operative Alliance's research engaged more than 1,000 people from 86 countries, to find out how co-operatives around the world express their co-operative identity using symbols and words. The research showed that:

• There is no abstract or pictorial visual language of co-operation that is recognised in every region or country.
• In different parts of the world, co-operation is associated with different symbols, including twin pine trees, rainbows, joined hands or the sunrise.
• The great majority of participants in our research believed that the word 'coop' or 'co-op' is unique and specific to our distinct model of enterprise, because it expresses who we are, what we do and what we stand for. There was no significant difference of view between people from different countries, business sectors or cultures.
• A symbol based on latin script letterforms was not considered to be culturally inappropriate for universal use across cultures and borders.
  
  The Marque is a simple but original design, based on the letterforms 'c-o-o-p', with interlinking 'o's as the central elements.
  
  The 'home' colour of the Marque is black.