Seaton Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups. We will be profiling some of these businesses and organisations regularly in a feature called 'Up Close'.

This week, we're chatting with Mark Jackson, who has worked as store manager of Seaton's Underfleet Co-op store for the past two years.

Originally from Somerset, Mark has worked for the Co-op for 22 years, starting as an assistant manager and moving around several branches before being appointed manager in Seaton.

He said that working with the local community every day is his favourite part of the job.

"You get to know your regular customers and build relationships with them," he commented.

"There are also different challenges to tackle every day and working with the team here is great; we are a very close team.

"The Co-op looks after its employees and I like the way they do business as they always put their values first; promoting and championing different local causes and things like the environment and Fairtrade, and that's something I really like to get involved with."

Mark says that he shares many of the Co-op's important values, including being open and honest, treating people fairly and listening to others.

"The way they do business is the way I like to treat people and do things," he added.

The Co-op Membership scheme sees 2p of every pound spent by Co-op Members on own-brand products raising funds for local causes through the Local Community Fund and national organisations via the Community Partnerships Fund.

The latest local causes to benefit from the Seaton store include Colyton Caterpillars Pre-School, Rupert's Under 5s Pre-School and Seaton Primary School PFA.

Through Co-op Membership, Mark says the Seaton store and its staff have become closer to their local causes, welcoming them into the store and becoming more connected with the community.

"There is more of an awareness that Co-op is not just a supermarket; people are learning about the Membership scheme and realising that it is of benefit to the local community," he said.

"We try to help as many local causes as possible and are happy to donate to local groups and fundraisers – just come in and ask."

Staff at the Underfleet store have also held several fundraisers over the past year for one of the Co-op's national charity partners, the mental health charity Mind. These have included raffles, tombola, competitions and dressing up days, and they hope to continue with this over the summer months now that coronavirus restrictions have been eased.

During the pandemic, Mark said he and his colleagues had to make several changes to how the store operated, following government guidelines to keep staff and customers as safe as possible, while also trying to help the local community through this challenging period.

Food bank donations collected in store have increased and the store launched a phone ordering and delivery service during the national lockdown, and is still continuing with its new online click and collect service.

The store has also recently launched a plastic recycling scheme, with a bin at the front of the store for customers to recycle their soft plastics. All Co-op's own brand packaging is also now fully recyclable.

Mark added: "We are really pushing environmental issues now. As a company, Co-op is conscious of its impact on the climate and aims to be a net zero business by 2040."

Co-op membership helps support your local community, with great rewards for you too.

When you buy selected Co-op branded products and services, 2p for every pound spent goes to you and we'll give the same to local communities. Join us today online at www.coop.co.uk/membership or in-store.