what is a co-op? our co-op and the wider co-operative movement
DESCRIPTION
An orientation on the co-op model and the larger co-operative movement for food co-op staff, board members, member-owners, and organizers of food co-ops. Customize this presentation to share the story of your co-op and how it ties to the wider regional, national, and global social and economic impact of the co-operative movement.TRANSCRIPT
Orientation for Food Co-‐op Staff, Board Members & Member-‐Owners
WHAT IS A CO-‐OP?
MONADNOCK FOOD CO-‐OP & THE WIDER CO-‐OPERATIVE
MOVEMENT
www.nfca.coop
The Neighboring Food Co-‐op Association (NFCA)
THE BASIC IDEA
¡ A co-‐op is a business that is equitably owned and democratically controlled by its members, the people who use the business to meet their common needs, goals and aspirations.
¡ Any surplus (or profit) at the end of a given year is reinvested and/or distributed among members in proportion to their use of the business.
¡ What do we mean by “use”? § Purchase of products or services § Amount of product processed, sold or marketed § Labor contributed to the business
www.nfca.coop
WHAT MAKES CO-‐OPS DIFFERENT?
¡ User-‐Owned: The people who use the co-‐op’s services also own it.
¡ User-‐Controlled: The people who use the co-‐op control it on a democratic basis (one-‐member, one-‐vote).
¡ User-‐Benefit: The people who use the co-‐op receive benefits based on their use, such as access to goods and services, better pricing, employment, and/or a share of year-‐end surplus (patronage).
www.nfca.coop
¡ Organized by our community members (from 2008 – 2013) w/a shared need for a downtown grocery store providing healthy, local food
¡ Owned by over 2,156 community members one year after opening
¡ Much of the start-‐up $$ raised from our members
www.nfca.coop
OUR CO-‐OP’S HISTORY
SO WHY JOIN?
• By purchasing a member share of $200, you become a part-‐owner of a local business with $6.5 million in sales annual revenue (and growing!)
• You can participate in the governance of your co-‐op by voting in elections (one member, one vote!) or serving on the Board of Directors.
• You share in the store’s profit through patronage refunds or discount at the register.
• Co-‐op ownership allows you to put your money where your values are.
www.nfca.coop
INTERNATIONAL CO-‐OPERATIVE ALLIANCE
DEFINITION A co-‐operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-‐owned and democratically-‐controlled enterprise.
www.ica.coop
www.nfca.coop
THE CO-‐OPERATIVE PRINCIPLES
PRINCIPLES 1. Voluntary and Open
Membership 2. Democratic Member
Control 3. Member Economic
Participation 4. Autonomy and
Independence 5. Education, Training and
Information 6. Co-‐operation among
Co-‐operatives 7. Concern for Community
www.nfca.coop
CO-‐OPERATIVE VALUES
Co-‐operatives are based on the values of:
¡ Self-‐help ¡ Self-‐responsibility ¡ Democracy ¡ Equality ¡ Equity ¡ Solidarity
In the tradition of their founders, co-‐op members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
www.nfca.coop
“What was the motivation of the Rochdale Pioneers, who codified the values and principles on which the co-‐operative movement has based since 1844? We know it today as food security.” Dame Paul ine Green, President International Co-‐operative Al l iance
www.nfca.coop
OUR ROOTS ARE IN FOOD ACCESS
NFCA Co-‐ops: ¡ Peer collaboration for business success
¡ Educating about our difference & shared impact
¡ Collaborating with other co-‐ops
¡ Expanding sourcing of regional products
www.nfca.coop
LEVERAGING OUR SHARED STRENGTH
The NFCA in 2013: • 35 food co-‐ops and start-‐
ups in our region • Locally owned by more
than 90,000 people • Over 7,000 new members in
2013 • Employ over 1,700 people • Have more than $240
mill ion in annual revenue • Purchase over $30 mill ion
worth of local products
www.nfca.coop
YOUR NEIGHBORING FOOD CO-‐OPS
National Cooperative Grocers Association: ¡ 136 food co-‐ops ¡ 180 stores in 37
states ¡ Combined annual
sales of $1.5 billion ¡ Over 1.3 million
member-‐owners
www.nfca.coop
FOOD CO-‐OPS NATIONWIDE
www.nfca.coop
THE FOOD CO-‐OP DIFFERENCE
Source: Healthy Foods Healthy Communities: The Social and Economic Impacts of Food Co-‐ops, 2012, NCGA: strongertogether.coop
www.nfca.coop
THE FOOD CO-‐OP DIFFERENCE
Source: Healthy Foods Healthy Communities: The Social and Economic Impacts of Food Co-‐ops 2012, NCGA: strongertogether.coop
CO-‐OPS ACROSS THE ECONOMY
¡ Food Co-‐ops ¡ Agricultural Co-‐ops ¡ Credit Unions ¡ Consumer Goods ¡ Worker Co-‐ops ¡ Housing Co-‐ops
¡ Health & Insurance ¡ Fishing Co-‐ops ¡ Communications ¡ Utilities Co-‐ops ¡ Artisan Co-‐ops ¡ Etc.
www.nfca.coop
Co-‐ops in New England ¡ 1,400 businesses ¡ Locally owned by 5
million members ¡ Earn $9 billion in
annual revenue ¡ Employ 22,000 people ¡ Pay $1 billion in wages
Source: http: / / re ic .uwcc.wisc .edu/
www.nfca.coop
YOUR CO-‐OP IS A PART OF…
¡ Cabot Creamery § Dairy products
¡ Deep Root Organic Co-‐op § Organic Produce
¡ Equal Exchange § Fairly traded products
¡ Organic Valley § Organic Dairy Products
¡ Port Clyde Fresh Catch § Seafood
¡ Real Pickles § Fermented vegetables
www.nfca.coop/coopproducts
www.nfca.coop
FAMILIAR CO-‐OPS ON OUR SHELVES
CO-‐OPS & LOCAL ECONOMIES
Co-‐ops strengthen local economies because they ¡ Are democratic ¡ Strengthen local ownership & control ¡ Put people before profit ¡ Develop local skills & assets ¡ Empower people with limited resources ¡ Develop economic efficiencies ¡ Are difficult to move or buy-‐out ¡ Have a low failure rate & are long-‐lived
www.nfca.coop
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…”
(United Nations, 2009)
www.nfca.coop
THE UNITED NATIONS YEAR OF CO-‐OPS
Co-‐ops are ¡ Innovative ¡ Successful ¡ Resilient ¡ More common than you might think § 30,000 co-‐ops in the US
§ 1 billion members worldwide
§ Employ 100 million people
www.nfca.coop
CO-‐OPS AND SUSTAINABILITY
¡ Become a member-‐owner of your food co-‐op!
¡ Welcome members & thank them for helping build your community co-‐op.
¡ Encourage shoppers to join your co-‐op by communicating the benefits of membership.
¡ Promote products from other co-‐ops in your store.
¡ Participate in your co-‐op’s annual meeting: learn & vote!
¡ Support other co-‐ops in your community and region.
www.nfca.coop
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Putney Food Co-‐op, Putney, VT
www.nfca.coop
PO Box 93 Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 www.nfca,coop [email protected]
I Y Our Co-ops!The Neighboring Food Co-op Association // www.nfca.coop