About Us
Welcome to the Food Co-op Initiative
The Food Co-op Initiative Program is a support system that seeks to enable a faster and more efficient start-up process to develop new retail grocery co-ops. Our first suggestion is that you completely review this entire site to gain knowledge and understanding of the program. You can contact Stuart Reid, our Food Co-op Development Specialist, at: stuart@foodcoopinitiative.coop or by phone at 507-664-2034.
Development Model
The Food Co-op Initiative Development Model was developed by Cooperative Development Services, a partner with NCB and National Cooperative Grocers Association in designing this program. All three organizations believe that the model, if followed by the applicant, will result in a greater chance for success.
The model is based upon the four cornerstones of vision, talent, capital, and systems that are each within three stages of food co-op development: organizing, feasibility and planning, and finally implementation. The four cornerstones and their three stages comprise a process for developing a cooperative retail food business. This process recognizes the need for support systems along the journey and seeks to provide assistance to approved applicants during the various stages.
