In 2014 the Manchester Area Committee of the Co-op Group set up the Co-op Cluster as an experiment in involving local co-op members and staff. It chose the area around Chorlton and Whalley range. These are suburbs of south Manchester with a strong co-operative tradition.

The much-loved and celebrated Unicorn grocery - a worker co-op - is based in Chorlton, attracting trade from across the northwest.

Before WW2 Chorlton was the base for the manufacture of CWS cars (yes, there was once a co-op brand of car).

There are 4 food stores and two funeral outlets in the area, all part of the Co-operative Group. The food stores in Chorlton were originally part of United Co-operatives before it merged with the Group in 2008. The Whalley Range store was originally a Netto store, and the Wilbraham Road store in Chorlton was originally a Somerfield.