Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-operative Society Limited (Lothian Co-op), founded in 1839 in the Scottish Borders, was the oldest independent consumer co-operative in Scotland until it merged with The Co-operative Group in December 2008. It operated over 50 food stores in the south and east, as well as some other retail businesses, and funeral services. At the time of the merger, Lothian Co-op was owned by 65,000 consumer members on a one member one vote basis. On the 19 August 2008, the board of the society agreed to propose the transfer of the society's engagements to the much larger Co-operative Group. The proposed transfer was considered by Lothian Borders & Angus members at a series of meetings in the autumn and, with a majority of the membership in favour of the proposal, the transfer of engagements took place on 13 December 2008. History Lothian Co-op was the direct successor of nineteenth and early twentieth century consumer co-operatives in its trading area, the oldest being in the border towns of Galashiels and Hawick. The Galashiels co-operative was formed by a mill workers' association that was already operating along similar lines. The Hawick and Galashiels co-operatives were formed in 1839, five years before the Rochdale Pioneers shop opened in England. Therefore, Lothian Co-op was, at the time of merger, probably the oldest continuously trading consumer co-operative in Scotland. Through 1991, the Galashiels co-operative expanded through mergers to serve the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway regions. In 1992, Border Regional Co-operative Society merged with East Lothian Co-operative Society (based in Tranent), becoming Lothian and Borders Co-operative Society. In 1998, it absorbed East Angus Co-operative Society of Arbroath, taking its final name and structure. In the early 21st century, growth continued through new construction and acquisitions from other grocers. New construction included a supermarket in Castle Douglas, and purchases included a former SPAR store in North Berwick, a filling station in Lauder, and, notably, nine convenience stores sold by Somerfield in 2006, Lothian Co-op's first operation in Aberdeenshire. Operations Lothian Co-op was a regional co-operative, formed by the gradual amalgamation of numerous local co-operatives. Operating 52 food stores in southern and eastern Scotland, as well as pharmacies, funeral services, post offices, petrol stations, and a furnishings store in Selkirk, it was the smaller of Scotland's two regional consumer co-operatives until 2008, the larger being Scotmid, and one of four altogether. Lothian Co-op was