Announcing its interim results for the first six months of 2023, Co-op has reported sales in its food retail division down by 8.9% to £3,563m. This was substantially the result of the disposal of its fuel forecourt estate of 129 sites in late 2022. Excluding this impact, underlying sales grew by 4%. Total group sales (including life and financial services) were also impacted by the disposal, falling to £5,430m.