From%the%Year%of%Co-ops%
to%the%Co-operative%Decade%
Erbin Crowell, Executive Director Fiddleheads Food Co-op // First Annual Co-op Fair
19th October 2013 // New London, CT
My%Background!
• 10+ Years with Equal Exchange
• St. Mary’s University, Master of Mgmt:
Co-ops & Credit Unions
• Co-operative Development
• National Co-op Business Association
• Teaching at UCONN & UMASS
• Neighboring Food Co-ops
• Co-operative Economy Community Food Co-ops
Worker Co-ops
Agricultural Co-ops
Outline!
• Our Context & Opportunity • Finding Inspiration • Neighboring Food Co-ops • The Co-operative Decade • Looking Forward • Your Thoughts
Co-ops%&%Local%Economies!
Co-ops are… • …a viable economic alternative • …an effective model for local ownership • …innovative, change-makers • …relevant across the economy • …more prevalent than we think • …our best tool for a sustainable future.
Our%Context!
• Crisis of our Economic System • Unemployment & Inequality • Dramatic Shifts in Wealth • Diminished Democracy • Corporate Influence • Instability & Change • Hunger for Alternatives
What%If…?!
There was a business model that... • …was democratic and sustainable. • …was rooted in our local communities. • …was part of a values based movement. • …put common good before private gain. • …was flexible and innovative. • …was successful and resilient.
England%in%the%1800s!
• Dislocation of Local Economies • Dramatic Shifts in Wealth • Concentration of Control • Poor Working Conditions • Limited Democracy • Globalization • Birth of the Co-operative Movement
Co-ops%Today!
• Are innovative Healthy food, organic, Fair Trade, relocalization
• Are successful 30,000 co-ops in all sectors of US economy
• Are resilient Survived and grew during the global recession
• Are more prevalent than we think 1 billion people are co-op members worldwide: …co-ops employ more people than multinationals …more than directly own stock in corporations
Co-ops%Today!
The best kept secret in community economics…
• …neglected by the news media
• …absent from colleges, universities, and
business schools
• …underutilized by government and community
development organizations
…but this is changing.
Our%Opportunity!
Co-ops “in their various forms, promote the fullest possible participation in the economic and social development of all people, including women, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples, are becoming a major factor of economic and social development and contribute to the eradication of poverty.”
United Nations Resolution 64/136 (2010)
International%Year%of%Co-ops!
Contribution of Co-operative Enterprise to:
• Poverty Reduction
• Employment Generation
• Social Integration
• Fairness & Globalization
• Conflict Resolution
• Food Security
International%Year%of%Co-ops!
UN Goals for 2012: • Increase public awareness
• Promote formation and growth
• Encourage governments to establish policies, laws and regulations conducive to the formation, growth and stability of co-operatives
Our%Challenge!
What are our goals?
What is our vision?
Where can we find inspiration?
Finding%Inspiration!
• Rochdale Equitable Pioneers
• Founded 1844 • Weavers, Unionists,
Community Activists • Member-Owned Store • Established Basic
Business Principles
The Rochdale Pioneers conceived in one association what now might make a multistakeholder co-
operative movement. The complementary half of this multisectoral vision is that it was a localized
vision: integrated co-operation within a geographically compact community.
Brett Fairbairn, “The Meaning of Rochdale”
Beyond%a%Grocery%Store!
An%Integrated%Co-op%Economy!
1. Begin with a Store
2. Accumulate Shared Capital
for Growth & Investment
3. Leverage Purchases to
Start New Co-ops
4. Grow the “Co-operative
Commonwealth”
A%Living%Vision!• The Co-operative Group
• 6 Million Members (2011) • 123,000 Employees
• 5,000 Stores & Branches in UK
• Cross-Industry: Farming, Travel, Financial Services, Healthcare, Funeralcare, Legal Services, Auto Sales, etc.
• 20 million members by 2020
• Vocational school in 1950s • 256 Co-ops & Subsidiaries • $20 Billion in Revenue (‘10) • 100,000 Employees (‘10) • Industrial Production,
Banking, Agriculture, Education, Tech, etc.
• Largest Domestic Grocery • Resilient in Recession
Mondragón,%Spain!
• 4 Million People • 7,500+ Co-ops • 30-40% of GDP • 2/3 are members of co-ops • 10% employed by co-ops • “Full employment” • Vibrant Local Traditions and
Food Culture • Cross sector co-operation
Emilia%Romagna,%Italy!
The Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA)
is a network of food co-ops committed to a
shared vision of a thriving regional economy,
rooted in a healthy, just and sustainable
food system, and a vibrant community
of co-operative enterprise.
Neighboring%Food%Co-op%Association!
Leveraging%Our%Shared%Strength!
• Peer Collaboration for Business Success
• Regional Sourcing
• Collaboration with other Co-ops
• Communicating Our Shared Impact
cave to co-op
sheep milk
bloomy rind
creamy, mushroomy, buttery
Woodcock Farm
Weston, Vermont
S u m m e r S n ow
o n s p e c i a l $ 1 5 . 9 9 / p o u n d
cave to co-op
sheep milk
bloomy rind
creamy, mushroomy, buttery
Woodcock Farm
Weston, Vermont
S u m m e r S n ow
o n s p e c i a l $ 1 5 . 9 9 / p o u n d
Cave to Co-op is a partnership of the Neighboring Food Co-op
Association, Provisions International Ltd and regional artisan
cheesemakers. For more information, please visit www.nfca.coopCave to Co-op is a partnership of the Neighboring Food Co-op
Association, Provisions International Ltd and regional artisan
cheesemakers. For more information, please visit www.nfca.coop
Telling%Our%Story…!
The NFCA in 2012:
• 34 food co-ops and start-ups
• 94,000+ member-owners
• 7,000+ new member-owners
• 1,480+ employees
• $215 million in annual revenue
• $30+ million in local purchases
• $2.2+ million in Fair Trade purchases
• $2+ million in purchases from other co-ops
…Across%the%Economy!
New England & New York • 8,860 co-ops • 9.5 million members • Employ 55,000 people • $2 billion in wages • $100 billion in assets • $14 billion in revenue
http://reic.uwcc.wisc.edu/ http://nfca.coop/co-opeconomy
Cross%Sector%Initiatives%
• Cross Sector Networks Shared marketing Business development Valley Co-operative
Business Association • Policy IYC Resolutions Legislative engagement New England Farmers
Union
Cross%Sector%Initiatives%
• Products & Sourcing “Go Co-op” Initiative Promote co-op products New co-op product
development • Education Ads & press Resources for co-ops Events & outreach
www.nfca.coop/go
Neighboring*Food*Co.op*Associa4on*
Member*Food*Co.ops*&*Start.Ups*
312 F A R M E R S (1,817 Nationally)
34 F O O D C O - O P S (90,000 Members)
•!
Food%Co-ops%&%Farmer%Co-ops:%
Working(together(for(a(more((just,(sustainable(and(resilient((regional(food(system.(
www.nfca.coop%%%%%//%%%%www.organicvalley.coop%
Organic*Valley**
Co.op*Member*Farmers*
Connec'cut! 1!
Maine! 29!
Massachuse2s! 2!
New!Hampshire! 9!
New!York! 134!
Vermont! 137!
Map Updated 9/2013
Co-ops%&%Local%Economies!
• Community ownership & democratic control • Focus on service, meeting needs before profit • Develop local skills & assets • Ability to assemble limited resources
• Regional economic efficiencies • Difficult to remove from a community or buy-out • Anchor community wealth
• More sustainable and resilient
Ontario Co-op Assocation // ontario.coop
End%Result!
Co-operative enterprises contribute to
more stable local food systems,
infrastructure, employment, services,
and economy.
A%Flexible%Model!
• Food Co-ops
• Agricultural Co-ops
• Fishing Co-ops
• Worker Co-ops
• Artisan Co-ops
• Childcare Co-ops
• Housing Co-ops
• Utility Co-ops
• Credit Unions
• Health & Insurance
• Etc.
“The real opportunity, of course, is to use 2012 to help achieve a longer-term vision. ICA is committed to turning The International Year of Co-operatives into a Co-operative Decade...”
Charles Gould, Secretary General International Co-operative Alliance
The%Co-operative%Decade!
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE ALLIANCEBLUEPRINT FOR A CO-OPERATIVE DECADEJANUARY 2013
By 2020, co-operative enterprise will be
• the acknowledged leader in economic, social and environmental sustainability
• the preferred business model for people around the world
• the fastest-growing model of enterprise by 2020.
The%Co-operative%Decade!
Opportunities%for%Growth!
• Existing Food Co-ops
7,000 new members in NFCA co-ops
Half of NFCA co-ops planning expansions
• New Food Co-ops
10 start-ups in NFCA membership
130 projects nationwide
Opportunities%for%Growth!
• Collaboration
Education & marketing
Partnership with supplier co-ops
Support new co-ops
Gaps in local economy
Opportunities%for%Growth!
• Converting existing businesses to co-ops – Solution to challenges of succession – Rooting enterprise in our communities
“Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.” 6th Principle of the Co-operative Identity International Co-operative Alliance www.ica.coop
Cooperation%among%Co-ops!
Looking%Forward!
How can we take advantage of this opportunity... • Events like this! • Networking within and across sectors
Neighboring Food Co-op Association, Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops, Valley Co-operative Business Association
• Co-op to co-op business and investment • From “My Co-op” to “Our Co-ops”! • Focusing on the Co-operative Economy
Fiddleheads Food Co-op
Real Pickles
Equal Exchange
Deep Root Organic Co-op
Neighboring Food
Co-ops
Organic Valley
New Producer Co-op?
New Service Co-op?
Credit Union
International Farmer Co-ops
Domestic Farmer Co-ops
Nat’l Co-op Business
Association CUNA WOCCU
Internat’l Co-operative
Alliance
Nat’l Farmers
Union
A%Co-operative%Economy!
Cross%Sector%Collaboration%as%an%‘End’!
Because of the our co-op… There will be a thriving, multi-sectoral
co-operative economy in our region, increasing in both scope and impact, to which our co-op is meaningfully connected.”
Sample ends policy thanks to Don Kreis Chair, Board of Trustees, Cooperative Fund of New England, and former member of the Board of Directors at the Co-op Food Stores
What’s%Going%On%Around%Us?!
• Co-op model seen as a solution
• A reinvigorated, reinspired movement
• Young people getting involved
• Existing co-ops are growing…
• …New co-ops emerging across our region
• Entrepreneurs to “Co-opreneurs”
• Renewed vision for a “Co-operative Economy”
Looking%Forward!
How can we take advantage of this opportunity...
…to be ambitious in our vision for our own food co-ops and wider community of co-ops?
…to work together across co-op sectors to
grow the co-operative economy?
…to consciously link our resources so we can
leverage shared impact?
Looking%Forward!
…and make
the Co-operative Decade
a reality.
Erbin Crowell, Executive Director
Neighboring Food Co-op Association
[email protected] // www.nfca.coop
www.facebook.com/neighboring
I Y Our Co-ops!The Neighboring Food Co-op Association // www.nfca.coop