THE BIGGER THEY ARE, THE HARDER THEY FALL...

The pursuit of market share and corporate growth in a competitive retail environment is expensive. The pressures of maintaining growth may place a considerable strain upon both human and financial resources, and former stars may fall from grace almost overnight. The rise and fall of Coop AG, Germany′s largest consumer co‐operative, are examined. In January 1988 Coop AG was the fourth largest retailer in Germany, with group annual sales of around £4 billion. In January 1991 the Coop AG no longer exists – following a financial scandal which culminated in the break‐up and takeover of the group by various competitors.