Food Co-ops

In communities all across the United States, food cooperatives provide grocery items of the highest quality and best value to their members. Whether it be a small buying club, a retail store or a large food warehouse, a food cooperative is owned and controlled by its customers. And, when it comes to their food cooperative, member-owners place service, quality, education and value at the top of their shopping list!

U.S. Food Cooperatives

Retail cooperative food stores number approximately 500 in communities across the United States. Whether a full-line supermarket style co-op or a small specialty or natural food store, all cooperative stores are committed to consumer education, service, product quality, truth in advertising and member control. At most co-ops, members and non-members alike may shop, but the benefits of membership include a voice in co-op policy, discounts or rebates for patronage and other specialized services.

Cooperative buying clubs or preorder co-ops are typically informal groups organized to buy directly from a wholesaler and save substantially on groceries. Group members order in bulk and divide their order among themselves. Each person also volunteers time towards the task of ordering, bookkeeping and distribution. Cooperative buying clubs may be organized to obtain common grocery items or special types of products such as produce, natural foods or canned goods.

Cooperative food warehouses across the United States supply food to retail co-ops and buying groups, maintain listings of cooperatives within their service regions and provide technical assistance to groups interested in starting food cooperatives. These warehouses are owned and controlled by the local cooperatives they service. Similarly, many private grocery store owners enjoy the benefits of cooperation through retailer-owned cooperatives which supply them with goods and services.