From%the%Year%of%Co-ops%

to%the%Co-operative%Decade%

Erbin Crowell, Executive Director Fiddleheads Food Co-op // First Annual Co-op Fair

19th October 2013 // New London, CT

My%Background!

•  10+ Years with Equal Exchange

•  St. Mary’s University, Master of Mgmt:

Co-ops & Credit Unions

•  Co-operative Development

•  National Co-op Business Association

•  Teaching at UCONN & UMASS

•  Neighboring Food Co-ops

•  Co-operative Economy Community Food Co-ops

Worker Co-ops

Agricultural Co-ops

Outline!

•  Our Context & Opportunity •  Finding Inspiration •  Neighboring Food Co-ops •  The Co-operative Decade •  Looking Forward •  Your Thoughts

Co-ops%&%Local%Economies!

Co-ops are… •  …a viable economic alternative •  …an effective model for local ownership •  …innovative, change-makers •  …relevant across the economy •  …more prevalent than we think •  …our best tool for a sustainable future.

Our%Context!

•  Crisis of our Economic System •  Unemployment & Inequality •  Dramatic Shifts in Wealth •  Diminished Democracy •  Corporate Influence •  Instability & Change •  Hunger for Alternatives

What%If…?!

There was a business model that... •  …was democratic and sustainable. •  …was rooted in our local communities. •  …was part of a values based movement. •  …put common good before private gain. •  …was flexible and innovative. •  …was successful and resilient.

England%in%the%1800s!

•  Dislocation of Local Economies •  Dramatic Shifts in Wealth •  Concentration of Control •  Poor Working Conditions •  Limited Democracy •  Globalization •  Birth of the Co-operative Movement

Co-ops%Today!

•  Are innovative  Healthy food, organic, Fair Trade, relocalization

•  Are successful  30,000 co-ops in all sectors of US economy

•  Are resilient  Survived and grew during the global recession

•  Are more prevalent than we think  1 billion people are co-op members worldwide:  …co-ops employ more people than multinationals  …more than directly own stock in corporations

Co-ops%Today!

The best kept secret in community economics…

•  …neglected by the news media

•  …absent from colleges, universities, and

business schools

•  …underutilized by government and community

development organizations

…but this is changing.

Our%Opportunity!

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, are becoming a major factor of economic and social development and contribute to the eradication of poverty.”

United Nations Resolution 64/136 (2010)

International%Year%of%Co-ops!

Contribution of Co-operative Enterprise to:

•  Poverty Reduction

•  Employment Generation

•  Social Integration

•  Fairness & Globalization

•  Conflict Resolution

•  Food Security

International%Year%of%Co-ops!

UN Goals for 2012: •  Increase public awareness

•  Promote formation and growth

•  Encourage governments to establish policies, laws and regulations conducive to the formation, growth and stability of co-operatives

Our%Challenge!

What are our goals?

What is our vision?

Where can we find inspiration?

Finding%Inspiration!

•  Rochdale Equitable Pioneers

•  Founded 1844 •  Weavers, Unionists,

Community Activists •  Member-Owned Store •  Established Basic

Business Principles

The Rochdale Pioneers conceived in one association what now might make a multistakeholder co-

operative movement. The complementary half of this multisectoral vision is that it was a localized

vision: integrated co-operation within a geographically compact community.

Brett Fairbairn, “The Meaning of Rochdale”

Beyond%a%Grocery%Store!

An%Integrated%Co-op%Economy!

1.  Begin with a Store

2.  Accumulate Shared Capital

for Growth & Investment

3.  Leverage Purchases to

Start New Co-ops

4.  Grow the “Co-operative

Commonwealth”

A%Living%Vision!•  The Co-operative Group

•  6 Million Members (2011) •  123,000 Employees

•  5,000 Stores & Branches in UK

•  Cross-Industry: Farming, Travel, Financial Services, Healthcare, Funeralcare, Legal Services, Auto Sales, etc.

•  20 million members by 2020

•  Vocational school in 1950s •  256 Co-ops & Subsidiaries •  $20 Billion in Revenue (‘10) •  100,000 Employees (‘10) •  Industrial Production,

Banking, Agriculture, Education, Tech, etc.

•  Largest Domestic Grocery •  Resilient in Recession

Mondragón,%Spain!

•  4 Million People •  7,500+ Co-ops •  30-40% of GDP •  2/3 are members of co-ops •  10% employed by co-ops •  “Full employment” •  Vibrant Local Traditions and

Food Culture •  Cross sector co-operation

Emilia%Romagna,%Italy!

The Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA)

is a network of food co-ops committed to a

shared vision of a thriving regional economy,

rooted in a healthy, just and sustainable

food system, and a vibrant community

of co-operative enterprise.

Neighboring%Food%Co-op%Association!

Leveraging%Our%Shared%Strength!

•  Peer Collaboration for Business Success

•  Regional Sourcing

•  Collaboration with other Co-ops

•  Communicating Our Shared Impact

cave to co-op

sheep milk

bloomy rind

creamy, mushroomy, buttery

Woodcock Farm

Weston, Vermont

S u m m e r S n ow

o n s p e c i a l $ 1 5 . 9 9 / p o u n d

cave to co-op

sheep milk

bloomy rind

creamy, mushroomy, buttery

Woodcock Farm

Weston, Vermont

S u m m e r S n ow

o n s p e c i a l $ 1 5 . 9 9 / p o u n d

Cave to Co-op is a partnership of the Neighboring Food Co-op

Association, Provisions International Ltd and regional artisan

cheesemakers. For more information, please visit www.nfca.coopCave to Co-op is a partnership of the Neighboring Food Co-op

Association, Provisions International Ltd and regional artisan

cheesemakers. For more information, please visit www.nfca.coop

Telling%Our%Story…!

The NFCA in 2012:

•  34 food co-ops and start-ups

•  94,000+ member-owners

•  7,000+ new member-owners

•  1,480+ employees

•  $215 million in annual revenue

•  $30+ million in local purchases

•  $2.2+ million in Fair Trade purchases

•  $2+ million in purchases from other co-ops

…Across%the%Economy!

New England & New York •  8,860 co-ops •  9.5 million members •  Employ 55,000 people •  $2 billion in wages •  $100 billion in assets •  $14 billion in revenue

http://reic.uwcc.wisc.edu/ http://nfca.coop/co-opeconomy

Cross%Sector%Initiatives%

•  Cross Sector Networks  Shared marketing  Business development  Valley Co-operative

Business Association •  Policy   IYC Resolutions   Legislative engagement  New England Farmers

Union

Cross%Sector%Initiatives%

•  Products & Sourcing   “Go Co-op” Initiative  Promote co-op products  New co-op product

development •  Education  Ads & press  Resources for co-ops  Events & outreach

www.nfca.coop/go

Neighboring*Food*Co.op*Associa4on*

Member*Food*Co.ops*&*Start.Ups*

312 F A R M E R S (1,817 Nationally)

34 F O O D C O - O P S (90,000 Members)

•!

Food%Co-ops%&%Farmer%Co-ops:%

Working(together(for(a(more((just,(sustainable(and(resilient((regional(food(system.(

www.nfca.coop%%%%%//%%%%www.organicvalley.coop%

Organic*Valley**

Co.op*Member*Farmers*

Connec'cut! 1!

Maine! 29!

Massachuse2s! 2!

New!Hampshire! 9!

New!York! 134!

Vermont! 137!

Map Updated 9/2013

Co-ops%&%Local%Economies!

•  Community ownership & democratic control •  Focus on service, meeting needs before profit •  Develop local skills & assets •  Ability to assemble limited resources

•  Regional economic efficiencies •  Difficult to remove from a community or buy-out •  Anchor community wealth

•  More sustainable and resilient

Ontario Co-op Assocation // ontario.coop

End%Result!

Co-operative enterprises contribute to

more stable local food systems,

infrastructure, employment, services,

and economy.

A%Flexible%Model!

•  Food Co-ops

•  Agricultural Co-ops

•  Fishing Co-ops

•  Worker Co-ops

•  Artisan Co-ops

•  Childcare Co-ops

•  Housing Co-ops

•  Utility Co-ops

•  Credit Unions

•  Health & Insurance

•  Etc.

“The real opportunity, of course, is to use 2012 to help achieve a longer-term vision. ICA is committed to turning The International Year of Co-operatives into a Co-operative Decade...”

Charles Gould, Secretary General International Co-operative Alliance

The%Co-operative%Decade!

INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE ALLIANCEBLUEPRINT FOR A CO-OPERATIVE DECADEJANUARY 2013

By 2020, co-operative enterprise will be

•  the acknowledged leader in economic, social and environmental sustainability

•  the preferred business model for people around the world

•  the fastest-growing model of enterprise by 2020.

The%Co-operative%Decade!

Opportunities%for%Growth!

•  Existing Food Co-ops

 7,000 new members in NFCA co-ops

 Half of NFCA co-ops planning expansions

•  New Food Co-ops

 10 start-ups in NFCA membership

 130 projects nationwide

Opportunities%for%Growth!

•  Collaboration

 Education & marketing

 Partnership with supplier co-ops

 Support new co-ops

 Gaps in local economy

Opportunities%for%Growth!

•  Converting existing businesses to co-ops – Solution to challenges of succession – Rooting enterprise in our communities

“Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.” 6th Principle of the Co-operative Identity International Co-operative Alliance www.ica.coop

Cooperation%among%Co-ops!

Looking%Forward!

How can we take advantage of this opportunity... •  Events like this! •  Networking within and across sectors

 Neighboring Food Co-op Association, Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops, Valley Co-operative Business Association

•  Co-op to co-op business and investment •  From “My Co-op” to “Our Co-ops”! •  Focusing on the Co-operative Economy

Fiddleheads Food Co-op

Real Pickles

Equal Exchange

Deep Root Organic Co-op

Neighboring Food

Co-ops

Organic Valley

New Producer Co-op?

New Service Co-op?

Credit Union

International Farmer Co-ops

Domestic Farmer Co-ops

Nat’l Co-op Business

Association CUNA WOCCU

Internat’l Co-operative

Alliance

Nat’l Farmers

Union

A%Co-operative%Economy!

Cross%Sector%Collaboration%as%an%‘End’!

Because of the our co-op…   There will be a thriving, multi-sectoral

co-operative economy in our region, increasing in both scope and impact, to which our co-op is meaningfully connected.”

Sample ends policy thanks to Don Kreis Chair, Board of Trustees, Cooperative Fund of New England, and former member of the Board of Directors at the Co-op Food Stores

What’s%Going%On%Around%Us?!

•  Co-op model seen as a solution

•  A reinvigorated, reinspired movement

•  Young people getting involved

•  Existing co-ops are growing…

•  …New co-ops emerging across our region

•  Entrepreneurs to “Co-opreneurs”

•  Renewed vision for a “Co-operative Economy”

Looking%Forward!

How can we take advantage of this opportunity...

 …to be ambitious in our vision for our own food co-ops and wider community of co-ops?

 …to work together across co-op sectors to

grow the co-operative economy?

 …to consciously link our resources so we can

leverage shared impact?

Looking%Forward!

…and make

the Co-operative Decade

a reality.

Erbin Crowell, Executive Director

Neighboring Food Co-op Association

erbin@nfca.coop // www.nfca.coop

www.facebook.com/neighboring

I Y Our Co-ops!The Neighboring Food Co-op Association // www.nfca.coop