Creating a Food Co-op in City Centre. City Centre

Transcription

1 Creating a Food Co-op in December 4, 2015

2 Background With the closing of the Shop Easy in City Park on November 3rd, 2015, many have people in the city centre have been forced to look for another option for purchasing food. While the store closure is a significant loss, this is also an opportunity to reimagine how we collectively purchase food in Saskatoon. In many cities across Canada food co-operatives have become a very viable and successful model of healthy food access. A food co-operative or food co-op is a food distribution outlet organized as a co-operative. Food cooperatives are usually consumers' cooperatives where the decisions regarding the production and distribution of its food is chosen by its members. Since decisions about how to run a cooperative are not made by outside shareholders, cooperatives often exhibit a higher degree of social responsibility than their corporate analogues. Given the location and population make-up of the area, a food co-operative could be a long-term viable option. This concept paper is intended to generate discussion on the potential opportunity for our community that a food co-op would provide. The Idea We would like to develop a profitable food co-operative driven by the community. In addition to food and household goods, the co-op would offer pre-made meals, independent vendor space, and potentially workshops through an event space for rent (similar to Le Relais on 4th Avenue N). In addition to focusing on retail sales, business partnerships and supply arrangements could be established. These additional offerings would not only provide added value to the community, they would provide diversified revenue streams to ensure the co-operative is profitable. In 2015, grocery stores are a tough business. Through consolidation of grocery stores, people in Saskatoon have become accustomed to travelling to big box grocery stores under the perception of saving money on food. However, across North America, food co-operatives are proving that community-owned grocery stores cannot only survive, but actually thrive and empower communities in this changing landscape. Mission To provide affordable fresh food to Saskatoon's city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods To create a vibrant and community-owned space downtown To innovate creative approaches to community-minded business 1

3 Principles 1. Voluntary and Open Membership - Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination. 2. Democratic Member Control - Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner. 3. Member Economic Participation - Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership. 4. Autonomy and Independence - Co-operatives are autonomous, self-determined organisations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy. 5. Education, Training and Information - Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation. 6. Co-operation among Co-operatives - Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures. 7. Concern for Community - Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members. Potential Offerings 1. Grocery and Household Goods - Sourced locally whenever viable with possible rooftop garden 2. Pre-made meals - Nutritious and affordable pre-made meals 3. Pop-up shops - Rotating pop-up spaces for local artisans 4. Community space - Bookable space for events and groups 5. Education - Workshops on food and community 2

4 Steps to making idea into reality 1. Gather background information 2. Assess community interest 3. Incorporate 4. Organize within the community 5. Recruit members 6. Research feasibility 7. Plan for financing 8. Secure financing 9. Select a physical location 10. Prepare for opening 11. Begin operations Source: Progress (as of Dec 2015) 1. Gather background information - Ongoing. 2. Assess Community Interest - With the Shop Easy closing, significant interest has been expressed from the City Park community in both helping organize the food co-operative and support it once it is up and running. Since downtown doesn t currently have a grocery store, there will likely be significant interest from residents, but it hasn t been formally quantified at this point. 3. Incorporate - In progress. 4. Organize withing the community - To build relationships in the community, assess community interest, raise initial operating funds, and recruit future members; the food co-op will begin by offering a community food market at the Community Service Village. This will be a logical starting point and allow for organic growth of this initiative before any significant capital investments. The next steps will largely be determined by the success and feedback from the community market. 5. Recruit members - TBD 6. Research feasibility - TBD 7. Plan for Financing - TBD 8. Select a Physical Location - TBD 9. Prepare for Opening - TBD 10. Begin Operations - TBD 3

5 THANK YOU FOR READING! We re always looking for others to get involved in organizing, potential partners, and funders. If this might be you, please contact Sugandhi at the info below. Contact: Sugandhi del Canto 4