Co-op’s Debbie Robinson named NACS Convenience Industry Leader
Robison leads the UK's largest independent co-operative society, with more than one million members and 13,000 colleagues operating in different communities.
Debbie Robinson, CEO of OurCoop, has been named the 2026 recipient of the NACS Convenience Industry Leader of the Year Europe award. The honor will be presented on June 17 during the awards gala at the NACS Convenience Summit Europe in Warsaw, Poland.
Robinson will be joined on stage by Henry Armour, chairman emeritus and CEO international of NACS, for a conversation about her leadership journey.
"Debbie has shown what bold, values-driven leadership can achieve – bringing three societies together to create the U.K.'s largest independent co-operative and driving innovation that strengthens the movement well beyond her own organization," said Armour. "Her ambition for co-operatives, and the growth she has delivered, are exactly why she is this year's Industry Leader of the Year recipient."
Robinson brings more than 40 years of retail experience to her role, having held positions at Co-op Group, Marks & Spencer and SPAR UK. She currently serves as President of Euro Coop, a board member of the British Retail Consortium, and holds a visiting professorship at the University of Birmingham, where she was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate for Outstanding Contribution to Business in 2022.
OurCoop, formed through the merger of Central Co-op, the Midcounties Co-operative and Chelmsford Star Co-op, is the U.K.'s largest independent co-operative society, with more than one million members and 13,000 colleagues. Under Robinson's leadership, the organization received a 2026 King's Award for Enterprise for promoting opportunity through social mobility.
Recent recipients of the award include Mariette Kristenson of Reitan Convenience (2025), Brian Donaldson of Maxol (2024) and Jose Barreiro of Repsol (2023).
