Questions over the Channel Islands Co-op’s response to the conflict in the Middle East dominated the Jersey annual members’ meeting last night, with directors grilled over whether they would pledge to stop stocking Israeli products.

While the recent cyber attack and the return to profit formed part of discussions at yesterday’s Jersey members meeting at the Pomme d’Or, which saw the proposed 2% dividend approved, much of the discussion was dominated by whether Jersey would be following the UK’s suit in seeking to restrict trade with Israel.

Half of all questions posed to senior executives and board members at last night’s Jersey Annual Members Meeting, focused on the suffering of Palestinians – who are currently enduring a two-month long humanitarian aid blockade imposed by Israel – and whether the supermarket chain would be taking the country’s products on its shelves.

Each of the questions received supportive applause from the audience.

“Are we going to side with the UK?”

“Unfortunately, the UN have said 17,000 [Palestinian] children are going to die if they don’t get any baby formula… Are we going to side with the UK and stop importing stuff from Israel or not?” one speaker asked.

Responding to some of the strong questioning, CEO Mark Cox explained that the UK-wide Co-op Group held its AGM on the weekend, where an “advisory” motion was carried in support of Israeli exports, but the Group will be reviewing their sourcing policy this summer.

” We will understand the outcome of the [sourcing review] in the summer, so we don’t know what the true impact is yet,” he said.

“It’s not drawing a conclusion on who’s right, who’s wrong”

Another member asked whether CI Co-op had developed a strategy to avoid acquiring products from occupied territories in Palestine since the outbreak of war in 2023, contrary to the firm’s policies on fair trade and responsible sourcing.

In response, Mr Cox explained that there is a commitment around not sourcing from those areas.

“Clearly, the situation [in Palestine] has changed dramatically, and it does need reviewing which is the piece of work [Co-op Group] is doing at the moment,” he said.

Mr Cox continued: “Since [Co-op Group] still purchase product from Israel, and they still purchase product from Palestine where they can, it’s all about supporting those local economies.

“If people boycott, then those local economies would suffer.”

“It’s not drawing a conclusion on who’s right, who’s wrong,” Mr Cox added.

Chief Minister “appalled and distressed”

It comes after Jersey’s Chief Minister last week shared that he was “absolutely appalled and distressed at the tragic circumstances in Gaza”, adding that Jersey’s government endorsed recent comments by Hamish Falconer, the UK minister with responsibility for the Middle East, expressing “fierce opposition” to any expansion of activities in the region by the Israeli Defence Force.

He said that were taking place between Jersey and Westminster, Deputy Farnham said, with External Relations Minister Ian Gorst “vociferously” expressing Jersey’s views on the matter.

And Housing Minister Sam Mézec yesterday launched a strongly-worded attack on a joint communiqué issued by the UK, French and Canadian governments stating that the expansion of Israeli military operations in Gaza was “wholly disproportionate”.

“As long as you continue to sell them [Israel] arms with which to conduct this genocide, then this statement is more meaningless empty words,masking your complicity in this atrocity,” Deputy Mézec replied on X (formerly Twitter).

2% dividend approved in Jersey

Aside from the geo-politically fuelled questions, Co-op members also took part in the usual matters of business yesterday, which saw them unanimously vote for the maintenance of 2% dividend.

The subject had previously caused a stir, when the firm last year announced it was slashing the 4% profit share for the first time in 40 years amid worsening financial performance.

However, after managing to balance their books once again, CI Co-op put it to members to keep the 2% divvy this year, and reinstated staff bonuses across the company.

The Guernsey members meeting is due to take place this evening at 6.30pm at St Pierre Park Hotel.

The votes:

Motion 1: To confirm the Minutes of the 2024 Annual Meeting of Members – carried

Motion 3: To receive the Board of Directors’ Report for the 52-week period ended January 2025 – carried

Motion 4: To receive the audited Financial Statements – carried

Motion 5: To declare a dividend of 2% for members– carried

Motion 6: To confirm the appointment of Grant Thornton as the Society’s Auditor from the conclusion of the Meeting until the conclusion of the next Annual Meeting of Members – carried

Motion 7: To authorise the Board to fix Grant Thornton’s remuneration – carried 

Motion 8: To elect one Jersey Member to the Board of Directors – Jennifer Bridge