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 are those that are linked together by associations that support shared growth and success.
That’s why the member co-ops of the NFCA leveraging our shared resources, expertise, and experience to support Start-Ups across the Northeast. Together with partners including Food Co-op Initiative, we’re growing the next wave of food co-ops.
Contact us for more information on membership and see below for more resources.
- How-to Start Co-op Manuals
- 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
Basics: Food Co-op Development in a Nutshell
- Food Co-op Development in a Nutshell, Ben Sandell, CDS Consulting Co-op (Columinate)
- 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
- Feasibility Study Checklist, Food Co-op Initiative
- Below is a listing of state statutes for incorporating a co-operative in the Northeast U.S. The NFCA provides support to member start-ups on incorporation, bylaws, and other issues.
- 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 (Assabet Co-op Market)
- 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