Katie Secretan has been appointed managing director of new fascia brand Co-op Wholesale, which will form part of a suite of services available to Co-op’s independent partners.
Secretan was previously retail and sales director of Nisa and will now lead The Co-op Group’s new division, which it claims will be able to deliver an unrivalled proposition that will lead to growth for both independent retailers and corporate partners
Jerome Saint-Marc, managing director for B2B and Growth at Co-op, said: “Our commitment to all our partners remains as strong as ever, to ensure their businesses drive profitable growth now and for generations to come. Our move to Co-op Wholesale is a strategic step forward for us and one we’re immensely proud of. It’ll allow us to deliver expansive growth and operational excellence for our B2B partners, bringing them the products they need, at the right price, when they need them.
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“With a new leadership team, strategy and vision, we have one clear goal and that is to drive growth by bringing the best of Co-op to our partners. And following the expertise, drive and passion we’ve witnessed from Katie in the last year, I am delighted that she will be stepping into her role to power the business forward.”
Katie Secretan, managing director for Co-op Wholesale, added: “We’re clear that this is more than just a supply relationship. Co-op Wholesale is backed by a business built on purpose and we’ll use our platforms to champion what matters most to our diverse partner base, as we know that we can make greater impact when we work together.
“Under Co-op Wholesale, we’re already making significant growth opportunities through corporate accounts as well as traditional retailers, and we’re looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”