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.
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?