Starting a new food co-op is both rewarding and challenging. It’s good to have the support of friends along the way!
The Sixth Principle of the Co-operative Identity recognizes that “co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.” Indeed, the most successful co-operative movements in the world are those that are linked together by formal associations with a shared vision for growth and success.
That’s why the NFCA is focused on leveraging our shared resources, expertise, and experience to support the next wave of food co-ops in the Northeast. Startup members receive a broad range of support, including participation in our free annual gathering for startup organizers, in collaboration with Food Co-op Initiative.
Contact us for more information on membership and see below for more resources for Startups.
Special thanks to our partners at Cooperative Development Foundation and Organic Valley for their support of our Startup Development activities as we celebrate a decade of Co-operation in 2021!
- How-to Start Co-op Manuals
- Articles
- Basics
- Capital Campaign Planning
- Case Studies
- Community Organizing Tools
- Board Resources
- Feasibility
- Incorporation
- Marketing
- Membership & Membership Accessibility
- NFCA Startup Workshop Day Presentations
- Presentations
- Project Management
- Success
- Surveys
- Webinars
The NFCA & Food Co-op Startups
- Learning from Co-op Startups, Cooperative Grocer
Basics: Food Co-op Development in a Nutshell
- Food Co-op Development in a Nutshell, Ben Sandell, CDS Consulting Co-
- Guide to Starting a Food Co-op, Food Co-op Initiative
- Growing a Food System for the Future: Starting a Producer Co-op: A Manual for Co-operative Enterprise Development (New England Farmers Union). While focused on producer co-ops, this manual offers guidance useful to other forms as well.
- Capital Campaign Planning Workbook, Food Co-op Initiative
- Capital Campaign Timing, Katie Novak Cooperative Coaching
Community Organizing Resources
- Community Organizing Self-Assessment, Neighboring Food Co-op Association & Food Co-op Initiative
- Cooperative Board Leadership Development Resources, CDS Consulting Co-op
- Feasibility Study Checklist, Food Co-op Initiative
- Below is a listing by state of statutes for incorporating a co-operative. The NFCA can provide limited support for incorporation and recommends that start-ups seek legal counsel experienced in co-operatives:
- CONNECTICUT: Gen. Stat. ß 33-183. (Co-operative Associations, Co-operative Marketing Associations, Workers Co-operatives)
- MASSACHUSETTS: Massachusetts ALM GL Ch. 157, ß 1(2013). (Co-operative Corporations, Co-operatives without Capital Stock, Employee Co-operative Corporations)
- MAINE: Maine 13 M.R.S. ß 1501 (2013). (Consumer Co-operatives, Agricultural Marketing & Bargaining
Co-operatives, Employee Co-operative Corporations, Fish Marketing Associations) - NEW HAMPSHIRE: RSA Tit. XXVII, Ch. 301, Note (2013). (Co-operative Marketing & Rural
Electrification Associations, Consumers Co-operatives) - RHODE ISLAND: R.I. Gen. Laws ß 7-7-1(2013). (Producers co-operatives, Consumers Co-operatives)
- VERMONT: 8 V.S.A. ß 31101 (2013). (Co-operatives, Marketing Co-operatives, Consumers Co-operatives, Worker Co-operatives)
- NEW YORK: https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/cooperative-corporations-law/
- Multistakeholder Co-operation, (Presentation by the Neighboring Food Co-op Association & Vermont Employee Ownership Center)
- A Multi-Stakeholder Cooperatives Manual, Cooperative Development Center
- Electronic Communication,CDS Consulting Co-op
- Member Equity Toolbox, Food Co-op Initiative
- “Membership For All” Programs, Neighboring Food Co-op Association
NFCA Start-up Workshop Day Presentations
- Case Study: Monadnock Food Co-op, Bonnie Hudspeth (NFCA) & Michael Faber (Monadnock Food Co-op)
- Why Some Start-ups Fail, Jacqueline Hannah, Food Co-op Initiative
- Planning for Membership Growth, Jacqueline Hannah, Food Co-op Initiative
- Attracting & Hiring a Good General Manager, Bonnie Hudspeth (NFCA) & Michael Faber (Monadnock Food Co-op)
- Case Study: Planning A Successful Capital Campaign, Green Top Grocery, Jacqueline Hannah, Food Co-op Initiative, 2016
- Membership Recruitment, Jake Schlachter, Food Co-op Initiative
- Food Co-op Development in a Nutshell, Ben Sandell, CDS Consulting Co-op
- A Food Co-op in Your Community, Food Co-op Initiative
- How We Started Our Co-op, Monadnock Food Co-op
- Help Make the Vision a Reality, Maynard Food Co-op
- Sample Project Manager Job Description, Prepared by Bonnie Hudspeth for Monadnock Food Co-op
- Elements of Success, National Cooperative Business Association
- Community Survey Overview, Food Co-op Initiative
- Monadnock Food Co-op Case Study, Bonnie Hudspeth (NFCA) & Michael Faber (GM, Monadnock Food Co-op)
- Starting a Food Co-op Webinar Archives, CDS Consulting Co-op
- An Insiders Look at Project Management, Bonnie Hudspeth (NFCA)
- Food Co-op Initiative Presentations