Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has reached out since my last message. In response to numerous comments and questions we have received I would like to take a moment to address some key points:

Dividend Decision
I strongly emphasise that no final decision has been made regarding dividends at this juncture. The recent announcement aimed to be transparent about the challenges we are facing, namely that maintaining a 4% dividend is currently unfeasible for this year. The Board will thoroughly review the year-end accounts and propose a plan regarding dividends, which will be communicated directly to you. Any proposed action will be subject to a vote at the Annual Members Meeting (AMM) scheduled for May.

The potential adjustment or suspension of dividends, while undoubtedly challenging, is crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of our Society within the islands. While our heritage is significant, so too is our ability to adapt and thrive in changing times.

While I fully respect the decision of some members to close their accounts entirely, I urge customers to be fully aware of what this choice will mean. If the decision is made to pay a reduced dividend in May, members who have closed their accounts will lose the opportunity to receive that dividend payment. Unfortunately, it's not possible to reopen a closed member account.

Share Accounts
Please be assured that any decision on dividend does not impact the security of the funds held within your share account, which will continue to earn interest as usual. The interest payments for the last year will be disbursed in the coming weeks.

The Annual Members Meeting Process
We've received several enquiries about the AMM process, and I've attached a link to our member rules for your reference, outlining the relevant sections (9 and 16). www.channelislands.coop/je/your-society/members/member-rules

Coop Expenditure
Regarding concerns about our expenditures, including those on uniforms, pharmacies, technology, and branding, I encourage discussion on these matters at the upcoming AMM in May when our financial information will be published. However, it is important to stress that these investments are made with the long-term interests of our Society in mind, aiming to enhance both customer and colleague experiences. They have been carefully factored into our accounts and have not impacted our short-term profitability.

Our Profitability
Our recent decrease in profitability is attributed to various factors, including the need to invest in price reductions to offset cost increases for our members. We acknowledge concerns about high prices and are actively working to address them. Our recent price drop campaign underscores this commitment, with £2 million invested in price reductions last year alone, reflecting our dedication to delivering more immediate benefits based on your feedback.

Your Coop
As a cooperative owned by you, our members, we deeply appreciate your loyalty. We understand that this decision may come at a challenging time, but we believe honesty and transparency are paramount in our communication with you.

Your continued support is invaluable as we navigate these challenges together. Through collaboration, we can work towards restoring profitability and ensuring the continued sharing of profits with you in the future.

Thank you.

Mark Cox
Chief Executive Officer
The Channel Islands Co-operative Society Limited