Content

• Steps

In the past, grocery cooperatives were a necessity because shops were far away, food production was seasonal or limited, money had to be spent wisely or trade for craft, and when many large families lived under the same roof.

Changes in the modern world towards an increase in the price of food and housing are forcing many families to live together, the quality and freshness of products are again gaining importance and society pays more attention to the ethics or environmental friendliness of the production of products, while the interest in the formation of food cooperatives is growing.

Collaborating in grocery shopping can save time and money. It's also a great way to make friends and have fun in the store, although successful co-ops are built on trust, respect, and research, so be wise when choosing partners. Currently, food cooperatives face a number of problems as people can be too pedantic or finicky, so it is better to limit the size of the cooperative to the number of people who can work as a team.

This article discusses what to look for in the beginning of creating a cooperative and maintaining it.

Steps

1. 1 Do your research. There are a lot of things to consider before starting, so it's best to calculate everything and anticipate the potential benefits. Here's something to think about: Are you price-conscious? People who know how to remember prices or have an idea of ​​what the price should be, get a decent head start at the start, since they already know the compared prices from other stores and can figure out if they are too high. Do you know why you want to create a cooperative? Mentally ask yourself why you need this, guided by your plan. Do you want to save money? Want to participate in the community? Shop locally to reduce greenhouse gases? Support a local manufacturing company? Striving for fresh and quality products? Want to avoid a lot of rage? Each has its own reasons, but by contemplating it, you are exalting yourself beyond your own boundaries. Are there markets near you? Find out about commodity exchanges or individual grocery stores nearby. You can find this information online, ask your local government office, or ask people. Give preference to farm types that you can work with and negotiate with directly. If the local market has its own website or price list on the internet, please read it carefully. Do you enjoy shopping in your area? Before starting a cooperative, go to the market and study it. Meet with vendors and ask about their product range. This is a key step, as you will learn about the appropriateness of your intention, and even if it does not make sense, you will not waste your time, as you will have a good experience. The advantage is that all grocers sell the same vegetables, and you can compare prices and quality to find out what benefits you need. So, is it cheaper to buy? Calculate the amount you will spend on your groceries from the supermarket or regular vendor, and write down all the possible bulk discounts to compare the numbers. In some countries, the goods in the markets are better and cheaper, but in others they are traps for tourists or sell the leftovers of the harvest after supermarkets have bought the best. Some markets are a little upmarket and overpriced products of equal quality. Some markets are quite cheap on the one hand and common on the other. Are they selling more than just food in the markets? In the process of rebuilding farmers' markets, popular in many countries and cities, they often sell more than just products under one roof. Here you can also find additional treats such as homemade jams, handmade soap, you can taste the products of individual craftsmen: butcher, baker, cheese maker, expensive wines. There is also a home accessories store (such as soaps and cleaners, clothes, etc.), antiques and other interesting shops. They often congregate within the marketplace, as this is the place where people are already coming to spend their money. Do you have enough people to start a cooperative? Stick to the middle because many employees will need a large vehicle, but a small group of people may not be stable or efficient. A group of 5-10 people is most suitable, but they will need about 2-3 vehicles. However, if you choose 3 vehicles instead of 10 following in one direction, you will save the environment. Do you have a delivery service? You are lucky if there is one large cooperative market, but individual store owners do not deliver frequently. However, if markets are not available and you only have one chain supermarket or mall, you may not want to meet with an agricultural producer, but it will save time and money in building a cooperative and you can make comparisons between large stores.Another advantage is that stores sometimes have a price list so that bulk orders can be ordered in advance, in addition, many supermarkets offer delivery. Can you rely on employees? If you don't expand too much to save more money, you lose quality, it becomes too expensive, or the job becomes more difficult. Most cooperatives fall apart if they do not trust the person who makes the purchases, if they think the bar is falling, if common sense has left the building, or it just becomes too difficult. Respect is a two-faced thing, so if the purchasing method is not agreed in advance and is not followed, then sooner or later the cooperative will disintegrate.
2. 2 Plan how you will create the cooperative and the roles of the people in it. This could be your family members, friends, neighbors or co-workers, so it's best to first meet and go to the market together to come up with ideas and get everyone an idea of ​​market planning. Try to find people with whom you are on good terms, and your work will be less costly. Other things to think about:
   • Establish who goes to market and when. It is best to do this in the morning and about once a week. You can choose one person to do this, or set up a schedule. It is advisable to make a list, as more people will be able to learn how to shop wisely and this will ensure the ability of everyone to buy good quality products for others, since the other person will buy them for you next time. If you have one person responsible for purchasing, because he lives closer, it is better to allocate money to him for gasoline, especially if the market is far away and / or regularly give him something in return for the effort spent. To reduce fuel costs, it is best for only a few people to go to the market at the same time, although transporting a large number of people in one vehicle faster (one person can be sent to buy bread, another fruit, another milk and cheese, etc.) ), but you will spend more on gas.
   • Make a shopping list ahead of time. It's always easier to group items from separate lists to put them together before purchasing, but don't lose your own sheet. Your kitchen may only need 2 tomatoes a week, while your employees need 30. Buying 30 and then dividing them at home is much cheaper, and this saves on the wholesale price.
   • Establish some ground rules and techniques for properly packing fruits and vegetables for your trip home. An example of a useful ground rule is when someone sets a certain weight (for example, 500 grams of pumpkin). It is good if there are a limited number of species, otherwise it would be more reasonable to explain to people that they might not be accurate enough and the nearest suitable alternative will be chosen. Another essential rule is to establish how to store food so that it does not spoil, and how customers will inform other employees if a product is out of stock so that they can choose something else.
   • Discuss the use of money. Ideally, all employees should pay for the week in advance, and if this is recorded in the ledger, everyone will know what they are spending, whether they have exceeded the limit according to which the shopping list is drawn up. This system is used at one level when money is available for urgent purchases and they do not have to take their savings, but this method can be tedious, so it is better to come to a joint agreement.
   • Select the necessary equipment for transportation. A refrigeration unit or thermal packs are ideal for all items, especially cold foods such as dairy or frozen food, which can be purchased from local liquor stores, a camping and fishing supply store, and online.You can save cardboard boxes or ask people to provide you with a large plastic bucket to store food in the car.
   • Plan your purchases according to your plan. If you are going to buy cold fish, ask the supplier to store it in the refrigerator after payment while you collect the rest to keep the fish fresh and usable. Buy the best products first, such as fruits and vegetables, as they often disappear from the shelves. Store all food in the car for light travel, and make sure you store food away from heat and bright light.
   • Discuss how employees can pick up products. You can take a day off for lunch or a picnic after work in a nearby park, or arrange a meeting at someone's home or pick up groceries from the driver one by one. There are many ways, among which you can choose the most suitable for you.
3. 3 Make your purchases. Try to befriend the grocer in the market, although this is not difficult if you are a regular customer. Whenever possible and at the right time, ask for a product selection or advice. Not only are they more experienced in choosing good quality, but sellers also know which product is better or seasonal at the moment and will offer advice on how to prepare and serve food. Friendship will allow you to order groceries in advance and / or arrange delivery. Some pinned co-ops have custom badges or cards to let shoppers know when the co-op is purchased. This is useful if you are negotiating a special rate so that other employees and alternating drivers can access these benefits. Modern and smart teams collect e-mail addresses of favorable sellers and send out a general list of necessary products for the store in advance, thus being able to quickly pick up cooperative products without unnecessary fuss. Specifying a specific weight will also save time as the products can be prepared and packaged for you ahead of time. It's good when employees don't spend a lot of time shopping for others, but keep in mind that co-op members need to meet with vendors often, as friendships and ease can be lost if you reduce the process to a regular deal. When you take the time to meet with a salesperson, you can learn a lot and also get better products and interactions. If you arrive early in the morning in front of the bulk of buyers, you have a better chance of chatting with the seller and asking for advice. It is better not to open a credit account for a cooperative until you register and become a well-recognized group - if your employees are neighbors, but relations between them deteriorate and they do not use the credit account correctly, all members of the cooperative will suffer from this. Never threaten the store owner with a price cut, but pay attention to the quality of the product at the discounted prices. Remember, respect works in two ways. Sometimes, you are willing to pay more for good quality, sometimes you bargain, for example, asking to sell 12 for the price of 10, but sometimes the price does not change significantly or you see no justified reason to pay more. Try to buy products of the same quality so that all employees have the same good products.
4. 4 Take the groceries home and share them. It is best to do this before employees arrive so that they can quickly pick up their groceries. People are people and they often want to compare their products with others to make sure they are of the same quality. If you allow people to choose for themselves and change them, buy more than they ordered, and this is an additional difficulty, so it is better to avoid this situation by agreeing this with each other using basic rules.It will be more practical to store the boxes and coolers and label them according to the family so that everyone has their own box and can receive their order. For frozen or chilled foods, it is advisable to reuse soft plastic beverage bottles by filling them with water and freezing them to keep the food chilled on the way home. Short-lived and gourmet foods need to be stacked in boxes on top of others, but if employees have old towels or other items that can be used as padding to protect food, this will ensure optimum quality is maintained. Tell people when to pick up their purchases (or bring them if the employee lives nearby) and then the job is done.
5. 5 To keep your co-op good and lasting, consider the following steps to make the job easier. There are many examples, but it is better to develop as you grow.
   
   Make a list online to be able to quickly connect with employees as a good way to connect people together. You can share news, for example, if one of the members of the cooperative managed to find out about a special price or products at reduced prices in order to be able to purchase them in time when the product is available or no longer available, or remind when the next purchase is planned and prepare lists and money.
   
   Weigh regularly the benefits of maintaining a cooperative versus how to solve small problems before they get big. Consider whether you should expand, and make sure you don't use too many personal and emotional means to solve problems in the group.
   
   Consider ways of doing business outside the co-op, if one employee has the ability to trade in chicken, or likes to make jams and jams, or is a baker, they may sell their produce to the group or pay for time and fuel that is not spent on shopping.
   
   It is better to balance everything correctly, so that everyone participates equally, or in equal proportions, so that the leadership of the cooperative does not lie with one person, or someone else does more work than others. You can contribute to the group so that you spend less on purchases and inspire others.