Starting up a Coop

Coontz, E. Kim: CCCD. Adapted from Ward and Kennedy, The Business Plan Manual. An overview of the purpose and components of a business plan.

Every year we at CCCD hear food co-op organizers’ questions and assumptions about how food co-ops start and how they can benefit their local community. We interviewed a dozen mature California food co-ops and 6 new co-ops in California and other parts of the US to learn a little more about what’s worked and what hasn’t, and what the impact of the store has been on local economy and agriculture. We hope you can use these answers as you promote starting a cooperative in your community.