The pitch was run by the AAR and was understood to have included Euro RSCG at the final stage, as well as DDB London and St Luke's in the initial stages. MediaCom and Naked have also been retained to handle media planning for the account, according to reports.
The Co-op called the review after deciding to position many of the Co-op brands, which include food stores, banking and funerals, under a single banner. Butterfield 8 and Innocence, the strategic brand consultancies, have been working on developing a new brand identity since last year.
In September, McCann Erickson won the Co-op's creative account to promote its membership programme, which incorporates its financial services and funeral and insurance brands. That pitch was overseen by the Haystack Group.
The company, which was launched in 1844, has so far struggled to shake-off its image of being unadventurous, compared with its competitors.
The Co-operative Group operates more than 3,000 retail outlets, 1,600 food stores and 500 funeral branches nationwide.
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