Democratic Governance
Member Ownership
Long-Term Sustainbility
Community Focus
Consumer co‑operatives are businesses owned and run by the people who use them. They exist to serve their members, making decisions democratically and sharing benefits with the community. Across Europe, they are a trusted, sustainable, and socially responsible model, especially in food retail.
At the heart of every consumer co-operative is the principle “one member, one vote”. This means that each member has an equal say in decisions, regardless of how much they spend or invest. Members also share in the co-op’s success, either through reinvestment into the business or returns on their purchases.
Consumer co-ops focus on:
Democratic Governance
Member Ownership
Long-Term Sustainbility
Community Focus
The co-operative model is a distinctive form of enterprise. Unlike traditional companies, it prioritises people over profit, ensuring that the business serves both members and society.
Key features include:
Shared Ownership and Control
Equitable Distribution of Benifits
Strong Ethical Standards
Collaboration width Co-ops to Strengthen the Movement
This model allows consumer co-operatives to compete successfully in the market while staying true to their social mission.
Consumer co-operatives follow a set of widely recognized co-operative values and principles:
Values:
Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. Rooted in the tradition of their founders, co-operative members also uphold important ethical values, including honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others.
Together, these values form the ethical foundation of the co-operative model and underpin the Seven Co-operative Principles defined by the International Cooperative Alliance.
They are communities built on trust, shared responsibility, and sustainable practices, making them a unique and resilient part of Europe’s retail and economic landscape.
Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all individuals able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership. Membership is open without discrimination based on gender, social background, race, political affiliation, or religion.
Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members. Members actively participate in setting policies and making decisions, typically following the principle of “one member, one vote”. This ensures that the co-operative remains accountable to the people it serves.
Members contribute equitably to the capital of their co-operative and democratically control it. Surpluses generated by the co-operative are typically reinvested in the development of the organisation, used to benefit members, or allocated to initiatives approved by the membership.
Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. Even when they enter into agreements with other organisations or raise capital from external sources, they maintain democratic control and preserve their co-operative identity.
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-operative. They also inform the public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.
While focusing on member needs, co-operatives also work for the sustainable development of their communities. They adopt policies and initiatives approved by their members that contribute to social, economic, and environmental wellbeing.