1.
1
The
Assabet
Village
Food
Coopera4ve
(AVFCO)
Massachuse(s
Green
Careers
Conference

2.
2
Our
Vision
–
Assabet
Village
Food
Coopera4ve
To start a store-front, locally-
sourced, community-owned
grocery store in the town of
Maynard that will serve the
Metrowest and Assabet Valley
regions.

3.
Co-operative Principles (ICA.COOP)

4.
4
About
Us
–
Assabet
Village
Food
Coopera4ve
• Began
membership
drive
2
years
ago
this
month
• Currently
have
458
members
from
25
towns
• Maynard,
Acton,
Stow,
Sudbury,
Bolton,
Concord,
Hudson
are
the
communiEes
with
the
most
Co-­‐op
members.

5.
5
Coopera4ve
Business
Model
Steps
in
development
are
all
Eed
to
member
numbers.
● Market
Study
@
300
owners
● Business
Plan
@
450
owners
● Site
selecEon,
hiring
a
GM
and
start
of
loan
campaign
by
800
owners
• Followed
by
construcEon
and
store
opening
(generally
1000-­‐1200
owners
by
store
opening)

6.
6
Why we are at today’s conference
Over 250 food co-ops in the US. Collectively the third largest buyer
of natural foods in the nation.
National Co+op Grocers (NCG) strongertogether.coop
Co-op vs. Conventional Food Store:
• 157 vs. 65 Local Producers working with each store
• 20% vs. 6% - Percentage of local products sold
• 38% vs. 24% - Revenue spent locally
• 82% vs. 12% - Organics as percentage of produce sales
• 48% vs. 2% - Organics as pct. of all grocery sales
• Much higher recycling rates, particularly for food waste
and plastics

7.
Local Economy
• 50% more of all
money spent by a
co-op grocery
store stays local vs
chain grocery store
Innovation
• Stimulates creation
of new small
businesses
• Creates economic
stability for existing
businesses/farms
to grow
Destination
Food Culture
• Attracts those who
want to be part of
creating a food
culture
• Synergistic
businesses, young
entrepreneurs
And
Economically?

8.
8
So
Where
are
the
Jobs?

9.
• Keene,
New
Hampshire
• Opened
spring
2013
• 10,000
sq
V
store

10.
• Portland, Maine
• Opened late 2014
• 10,000 sq ft store
• Meeting first year
sales projections

11.
Our
Community
of
Support

12.
Partnering
to
Support
Our
Community

13.
Where
to
find
us
Assabetvillagecoop.com
Assabetvillagecoop@gmail.com
AssabetVillageCoop
AssabetFoodCoop