PR Officer

Overview

In this role you will lead proactive media relations for Co-op Wholesale within the Customer Experience team, elevating our brand in trade media and supporting commercial propositions. You will craft impactful content, manage press activity, and drive campaigns that raise awareness and trust across our independent retailers, key accounts, and corporate clients. This is about shaping how we tell our story, respond to media inquiries, and showcase our partnerships at scale. You’ll join a collaborative team and contribute to a high-visibility awards and case-study program with real business impact.

Pay / Benefits

• annual bonus
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32)
• pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• 30% discount on Co-op products
• 10% discount on other brands
• training and development support

Responsibilities

• Build and manage relationships with key trade and B2B media to secure coverage aligned with corporate objectives
• Manage press office activity for store launches, franchise openings, corporate announcements, and contract extensions
• Support reactive communications and issue management with professional handling of inquiries
• Develop press releases, media statements, photography briefs, editorial pitches, and thought leadership content
• Shape integrated media campaigns to raise awareness of new initiatives, partnerships, or milestones
• Collaborate with internal teams and working groups to uncover media-worthy stories and amplify leadership voices
• Support industry award submissions and create case studies for use across media, social, and events
• Identify new media opportunities to enhance Co-op Wholesale’s media presence

Key requirements

• Proven PR media relations experience in a B2B, retail, FMCG, or agency setting
• Experience supporting issue communications and managing media protocols under pressure
• Excellent written and verbal communication, capable of handling journalist inquiries
• Ability to identify newsworthy stories and understand what makes content engaging
• Proactive, positive, collaborative, and comfortable engaging with colleagues at all levels of seniority

• Proactive
• Positive attitude
• Collaborative
• Media relations
• Press releases and statements
• Editorial pitches and thought leadership content

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