THE Midlands Co-operative Society has announced it is on course for a ninth consecutive year of record results.

The revelations follow the publication of its interim report for the half-year, which ended on Saturday, August 7.

Among its achievements so far are 4.7 per cent overall gross sales increase, trading profit increase of 5.7 per cent to £10.9m and more than £20m capital investment.

As a result, the society, the third largest Co-op society in the UK, is about to make its first dividend payment on the newly launched members' card.

Its key activities are food and non-food retailing, dairy, travel and funeral services.