2022 Webinar Series for Startups

Six free webinars designed for boards, volunteers and stakeholders of startup food co-ops. Access the recordings…

Organizations to connect with…

Food Co-op Initiative (FCI) – Hands-down the best place to begin. This organization is at the forefront of start-up food co-ops. The FCI web site is chock-full of resources and guides to help develop your community’s food co-op.

Up & Coming Food Co-op Conference – Annual conference for start-up food co-ops.

Rural Grocery Initiative (Kansas State University) - “Aims to sustain locally-owned rural grocery stores to enhance community vitality and improve access to healthy foods by identifying, developing, and sharing resources that support grocers and rural communities.”

seven roots - is a full service design firm dedicated to the growth and development of independent natural food stores and food co-ops. seven roots are industry veterans who formed a worker co-op to strengthen our food systems.

Columinate – A cooperative of consultants specializing in food co-op governance, leadership development, expansions, retail improvement, marketing, member services and human resources. The majority of Columinate members are former staff or directors of cooperatively-owned businesses. Great resources online for start-up co-ops.

Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) - A federation of over 35 food co-ops and start-up initiatives across New England and New York. Some online resources for start-up food co-ops.

CooperationWorks! - National network of organizations and individuals working in cooperative development. Their members provide everything from board training to business planning for new and growing co-ops.

Local Food & Farm Co-ops (Canada) – Nonprofit co-operative network that specializes in organizing and development support for food and farming co-ops in Ontario. Provides training, online and in-person capacity-building, and coordinates peer-to-peer support.

Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada - General co-operative development resources including listing of provincial development associations.

Check out these inspiring web sites of start-up food co-ops…

Whitewater Grocery Co. (Whitewater, Wisconsin)

Wasatch Cooperative Market (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Chicago Market (Chicago, Illinois)

Food Shed Co-op (Woodstock, Illinois)

Prairie Food Co-op (Lombard, Illinois)

Northside Food Co-op (Wilmington, North Carolina)