For U.S. and Canadian food co-operators, including staff, managers, and boards of directors.

When you step into a food co-op, you’re not just shopping—you’re participating in a different kind of economy, one where people, not profits, make the decisions. But how do we effectively communicate that to our members, our communities, and each other?

In a time when economic power is increasingly influencing political institutions, co-ops offer a democratic alternative—one that shifts control back to the people. Yet, many still ask: Why should I care about democracy in my grocery store?

Join us for this engaging webinar, designed for co-op marketing and outreach professionals, board members, general managers, and staff.

What you’ll gain:

» The Foundational ‘Why’: The rationale for democratizing the economy through the cooperative model and why economic democracy matters now more than ever.

» Master the Narrative: Learn how to frame the democratic foundation of food co-ops in compelling, non-partisan language, and within the context of today’s political and economic climate.

» Storytelling Tools: Democracy-specific storytelling tools that inspire deeper engagement in your food co-op and that motivate new interest.

PRESENTERS:

JOHN RESTAKIS, Author, Humanizing the Economy: Co-operatives in the Age of Capital and Civilizing the State: Reclaiming Politics for the Common Good (New Society Publishers). John has 25 years of experience in the co-op movement. He is the former Executive Director of the BC Co-operative Association and Community Evolution Foundation. He writes and lectures on economic democracy and the role of co-operatives.

JON STEINMAN, Author, Grocery Story: The Promise of Food Co-ops in the Age of Grocery Giants (New Society Publishers). Jon is an owner-customer and past board director and President of the Kootenay Co-op. Jon’s Grocery Story Press publishes and designs resources to support the food co-op movement.

Designed for U.S. and Canadian food co-op managers, staff, and board directors and for anyone interested in learning how cooperatives can be alternative sites of power for consumers and communities.

How can we know who we are and where we are going if we don't know where we have come from? This couldn’t be a more important time to review the history of grocery retail and food cooperatives. As the political and economic paradigms of today swing in a different direction, history offers us clues for what the future might hold. Join author and co-op storyteller JON STEINMAN to explore the fascinating, frustrating and inspirational history of modern grocery retailing and the waves of food co-op formation that emerged alongside.

Areas of focus:

• The rise of early 20th century grocery giants.

• Resistance to the rise of the chains: competition law/enforcement.

• Emergence of low-price/discount food culture.

• Evolution of retailer dominance over suppliers.

• History of the co-operative model.

• Why co-ops emerged as a response to overly-liberalized markets.

• Waves of food co-op development.

• African American co-ops.

• The rise and fall of 1970s-era food co-op distributors.

• Food co-ops ‘grow up’ in the 1980s.

• Erosion of competition enforcement and effects of Reagan-era economics on grocery retail, market concentration, and on the food system.

• Food co-ops today.

• The future of food co-ops.

What will participants walk away with?

• Strong sense of purpose as an employee, board director, or member-owner of your food co-op.

• Solidarity with previous generations of co-op developers.

• Increased capacity to communicate the role of food co-ops within the context of historic and present-day grocery retail.

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: LINK

COST: $40 (single-user) | $300* (10-person license) | $500* (organization license)

(* Co-ops wishing to consider a group license are invited to acquire an individual license to preview the content and will receive a $40 promo code if proceeding to choose either of the two group licenses. A group license includes a link to download content.)

DURATION: 80 minutes

DATE RECORDED: January 22, 2025

FEATURED SPEAKERS: Jon Steinman (Grocery Story Press)

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Food co-op directors, managers, staff, member-owners / Advocates for good food and healthy food systems / Community Economic Development

SUPPORTING RESOURCES: Yes (found in ‘Bonus Downloads’)

TESTIMONIALS: “A wonderfully educational and inspiring webinar.” - Food co-op board director

Designed for U.S. and Canadian food co-op managers, staff, and board directors.

Join author and co-op storyteller JON STEINMAN in this timely webinar.

One of the most significant challenges food co-ops face are food price perceptions. Most food co-ops are highly committed to offering price-accessible food while also maintaining high standards of ethical sourcing, while also supporting staff with the best wages and benefits possible, while also remaining competitive! Balancing all this operationally, not to mention the work involved in navigating the opinions and beliefs on the subject, is beyond considerable. Responding to questions about food prices and affordability requires careful consideration and it presents a wonderful opportunity.

Areas of focus:

• How to harness the current climate of grocery giant distrust and political action on food prices to tell your food co-op story.

• How are shoppers’ food price perceptions cultivated?

• Untangling food price comparisons between organic, local and conventional counterparts.

• Unpacking “affordability”.

• From ‘expense’ into ‘investment’. Transforming customers’ relationship to price.

• The delicate web connecting prices, competition, wages & benefits.

What will participants walk away with?

• Strategies and storytelling skills to expand the field of view on food prices.

• The confidence to respond to customer and member questions on prices and affordability.

• Media tips & talking points.

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: LINK

COST: $50 (single-user) | $350* (10-person license) | $600* (organization license)

(* Co-ops wishing to consider a group license are invited to acquire an individual license to preview the content and will receive a $50 promo code if proceeding to choose either of the two group licenses. A group license includes a link to download content.)

DURATION: 79 minutes

DATE RECORDED: November 6, 2024

FEATURED SPEAKERS: Jon Steinman (Grocery Story Press)

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Food co-op communicators

SUPPORTING RESOURCES: Yes (found in ‘Bonus Downloads’)

TESTIMONIALS

"This was so helpful!! I feel much better prepared to have difficult conversations."

"Very informative. Grateful for the information."