OurCoop chooses LoweConex for unified HVAC and refrigeration telemetry

OurCoop has selected LoweConex to centralise the telemetry for its refrigeration and HVAC systems across the newly formed retail society. The partnership aims to improve asset uptime and streamline maintenance workflows through the deployment of Conex OS, a connected estate platform.

This development follows the merger of three separate co-operative entities—Central Co-op, Chelmsford Star Co-operative, and Midcounties Co-operative—in January 2026. The expanded agreement brings both the former Midcounties estate and the Central Co-op footprint into scope for centralised telemetry. The system connects and normalises data from fragmented operational systems, creating a single view of estate-wide performance.

LoweConex will provide professional services to help identify opportunities for continuous improvement. This includes maximising energy optimisation and improving long-term asset performance. The platform supports facilities, energy, and maintenance teams by reducing energy waste and improving asset uptime across complex estates.

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The collaboration focuses on reducing reactive workloads and improving maintenance outcomes. Teams will benefit from increased alarm intelligence and better work order accuracy. The goal is to give decision-makers stronger insight into critical store infrastructure.

Steve Smith, Senior Facilities Manager at OurCoop, explained the reasoning behind the partnership. “Ensuring our stores operate efficiently and reliably is critical for our colleagues, members and customers. By working with LoweConex, we are creating a more centralised view of our refrigeration and HVAC assets, helping our teams make better-informed decisions around maintenance, energy consumption and estate performance.”

The system is designed to support a member-owned organisation with over one million members and 13,000 colleagues. It allows the Society to manage critical assets in a more connected and proactive way.

Building on the success of the original Midcounties deployment, the new scope supports a broader network of stores. The platform helps teams get ahead of refrigeration faults and strengthen maintenance workflows.

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Centralising asset data typically offers significant advantages for large retail operators. When facilities managers can observe real-time performance across dispersed locations, they can address issues before they escalate into costly failures. This shift from reactive repair to predictive maintenance allows for better allocation of resources and reduces the risk of service disruptions that directly impact customer experience.

Jessica Caldwell, Head of Customer Success at LoweConex, highlighted the impact of the technology. “For convenience and grocery retailers, connected asset data can make a measurable difference. By centralising refrigeration and HVAC telemetry through Conex OS, OurCoop can improve alarm intelligence, strengthen maintenance workflows and unlock clearer insight into energy performance and estate health.”

The Society trades nationally through its family of businesses while remaining rooted in local communities. Its footprint spans Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Bedfordshire in the South and West; the Midlands including Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire; the North including Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Yorkshire; and the East of England, including Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.