Associated Co-operative Creameries

Associated Co-operative Creameries (ACC), formerly CWS Milk Group, was a subsidiary and operating division of the Co-operative Group.

Associated Co-operative Creameries Limited is an industrial and provident society that was first registered in 1961,^[1] and became a subsidiary of the North Eastern Co-operative Society (NECS), a large regional consumer co-operative based in Gateshead. It became one of the largest milk processors and distributors in north-east England. After NECS merged with the Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS, now the Co-operative Group) in 1992, Associated Co-operative Creameries absorbed CWS Milk Group, a milk processor and distributor based in Wales and north west England.^[2] The abbreviated trading name ACC was adopted in 2001 when the milk and distribution operations were split.

By 2004, Associated Co-operative Creameries Limited, trading as ACC Milk, was the UK's fourth largest dairy business, when it was sold to yet another co-operative, Dairy Farmers of Britain of Nantwich, Cheshire, forming Britain's largest milk co-operative, and the UK's third largest milk processor.^[3][4] ACC moved its registered address to Nantwich at that time.^[1]

ACC Distribution was the logistics division of The Co-operative Group and supplied not only stores belonging to The Co-operative Group itself but other co-operative societies. ACC Distribution is still owned by the Co-operative Group and is today known as Co-operative Retail Logistics.^{[citation needed]}