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Private company

All Russian Co-operative Society

1920s trade organisation in UK

The All-Russian Co-operative Society (ARCOS or ARKOS, Russian: АРКОС) was the principal body responsible for orchestrating Anglo-Soviet trade in the early days of the Soviet Union, following the development of Vladimir Lenin's New Economic Policy. Its headquarters was located in Hampstead, London. In 1927 the organisation was raided by British authorities, who accused the company as serving as a front for subversive activities.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

Jun 1920Founded1
  • Industryinternational trade1
  • HeadquartersLondon1

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Bush house
Photo: CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons4

The All-Russian Co-operative Society (ARCOS or ARKOS, Russian: АРКОС) was the principal body responsible for orchestrating Anglo-Soviet trade in the early days of the Soviet Union, following the development of Vladimir Lenin's New Economic Policy. Its headquarters was located in Hampstead, London. In 1927 the organisation was raided by British authorities, who accused the company as serving as a front for subversive activities.2

The story

The All-Russian Co-operative Society, Ltd., began operations in London in October 1920. The name "Arcos" is an acronym deriving from the formal name of the company: All-Russian Co-operative Society, although in the contemporary press the name was typically capitalised as would be a proper name (i.e. "ARCOS").

Arcos was established as the official buying and selling agency of the Soviet government in the United Kingdom, and was a British company, operating under British law, although the stockholders were all Soviet citizens.

Arcos made £1,970,000 worth of purchases during the calendar year 1920, with payment for its purchases made in gold via the city of Reval (now known as Tallinn) in Estonia. The company bought an additional £3,650,000 worth of products during the first 8 months of 1921. Chief among its purchases were food, textiles, and coal, although a rather limited quantity of agricultural machinery was also obtained. The company was also the conduit for the sale of over £300,000 worth of Russian produce up to August 1921, primarily flax, but also including timber, manganese, and furs.

From Wikipedia’s article on All Russian Co-operative Society, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 1927Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. Jun 1920Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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