Model

To compare the pros and cons of coops vs other legal models, use this handy matrix. More information from the Business Council of Cooperatives and Mutuals and specifically the Australian Coop Manual. A great broader resource for coops is the Sustainable Economies Law Centre (US).

There are 4 major types of cooperative, based on the stakeholders that form the membership.

Consumer Co-op

Owned by the members who are also the consumers of the food sold.  Co-operative stores are established to provide goods to their community, often when the community is not well serviced, or when an existing retail shop faces closure and the community joins forces to retain the store.  Retail co-operatives vary in size from small buying groups to large supermarkets.

Producer Co-op

A cooperative group owned and operated by producers and which serves members through joint marketing, purchasing, processing or distribution of member’s products.

Worker Co-op

A cooperative group that is owned and controlled by people who work in it. More information here. 

Multi Stakeholder Co-op

A cooperative group which allows for governance through representatives of two or more ‘stakeholder’ groups within the same organization, including consumers, producers, workers.

Manchester Veg People is structured as a multi-stakeholder coop, based on the “model” Somerset Rules.  MVP have processes to negotiate process between buyer members and seller members at the start of every season.