Lothian, Borders & Angus Co-operative Society Limited (Lothian Co-op), founded in 1839 in the Scottish Borders, was the oldest independent consumer co-operative in Scotland until it merged with The Co-operative Group in December 2008.It operated over 50 food stores in the south and east, as well as some other retail businesses, and funeral services.At the time of the merger, Lothian Co-op was owned by 65,000 consumer members on a one member one vote basis.