The Co-operative Travel and Cosmos have announced the ending of their joint venture tour operation by mutual consent.
The pair entered into the arrangement last year as Cosmos looked for high street distribution and the Co-op sought guaranteed access to stock.
The Co-op had a close supplier retailer partnership with Thomas Cook and the tie up with Cosmos raised speculation that it had strained relations between the two retailers.
However, last week Cook and the Co-op announced their retail merger placing the Cosmos joint venture in doubt. Both parties said on Friday that the venture was “under review”.
In a joint statement released today Cosmos and the Co-op said: “From November 1, 2010, no further bookings will be taken as part of the joint venture.
“All customers booked to travel during the current season, ending on October 31, will be unaffected by the changes. The travel arrangements of customers booked to travel from November 1 onwards will be transferred to suitable alternative arrangements.
“New commercial arrangements regarding the supply of Cosmos packaged holidays, accommodation and wider opportunities for Monarch flying are under discussion and both parties are looking forward to further developing the commercial relationship, particularly in the light of the announcement of the merger of The Co-operative Travel’s high street travel business with that of Thomas Cook.”
The Co-operative Holidays joint venture had got off to a difficult start prompting The Co-op managing director Mike Greenacre to send a a strongly worded email to staff telling them to sell more.