Dear cooperators and friends,

While there is a lot to glean from our Guide to Starting a Food Co-op, other resources, and webinars, startup food cooperators also need personalized guidance and conversation throughout their development process. FCI’s Peer Group’s are just the place! Our Peer Group program connects cooperators who are in similar stages of development to meet monthly to learn, discuss, and build community with experts and their peers. 

Joining a Peer Group can make a big difference in your startup co-op’s development progress and momentum. 75% of Peer Group participants said that attending their Peer Group helped their startup co-op move forward over the last year, and 97% said that it is important for startup co-op’s to participate in an FCI Peer Group. 

“I think a lot of the hurdles we faced throughout the year would have been nearly insurmountable. The FCI Peer Groups allow us to bounce ideas, thoughts, and comments off of each other so we can hammer out solutions that benefit all co-ops in the Peer Group.” ~ Food Shed Co-op, 2022-23 Peer Group participant

Each group is facilitated by a co-op development expert, and topics are developed based on the groups’ unique needs and interests. We even bring in other experts to ensure that each group is getting the best information and guidance around. And, Peer Groups are an important place to connect with the food co-op community and your peers.

“Our facilitator… is exceptionally knowledgeable about every phase… Doing this work can feel lonely and isolating if you are not connected to a peer group or have a mentor cooperative to walk alongside you.” ~ Southside Food Co-op, 2022-23 Peer Group participant 

Peer Groups meet monthly from October - July, and we are building our groups for the 2023-24 year right now. If you’re working to build a food co-op in your community and you’re not already signed up for a Peer Group, we want to hear from you! Email JQ Hannah at jq@fci.coop to get enrolled in the 2023-24 Peer Group program.

In cooperation,
Faye

 

P.S. The Up and Coming Conference is less than one month away - check out more details below and we hope to see you there!

Resource Spotlight

NEW - the FCI Timeline Template

Having a visual timeline of your co-op’s development process and where your startup is in that process is an important communication and education tool for your owners and community to understand and feel connected to your co-op’s development process. In response to many requests, we worked with the Firebrand Cooperative to create a timeline template that startups can easily customize to their brand and their specific project. 

• The Timeline Template is available HERE.
• You can watch a video on how to utilize your timeline and with a tutorial on how to edit the timeline template to your needs HERE. 

See All our Resources at FCI.coop >>

Startup UPDATES & Celebrations

Briar Patch Food Co-op opens their second store in Auburn, CA with the Auburn Chamber of Commerce

• Aliquippa Food Coop – first meeting – Located in Aliquippa, PA, this community held their first organizing meeting about opening their own food co-op at the end of June. 
• Briar Patch Food Co-op, Auburn location  – open! – The Central Square Food Co-op was a startup food co-op that launched in Auburn, CA in 2018. In August of 2020, they voted to merge with the Briar Patch Food Co-op, which has been serving Grass Valley, CA since 1976, with the intent that BPFC would then open an Auburn location. Three years later, the dream has come true! BPFC’s Auburn location opened on August 10th, 2023!
• Detroit People’s Food Co-op  – received grant – The Detroit People’s Food Co-op, which is slated to open in early 2024, was awarded the top Motor City Match Grant of $100,000 in July.

  “This is unapologetically Black-led. It’s 12 years in the making. Everyone involved is so excited. I look forward to seeing what the young people do over the coming generations with this democratically-owned store”, shared Lanay Gilbert, Board President, DPFC.

• Food Shed Co-op  – groundbreaking – This stage 3 startup in Woodstock, IL broke ground on their future 9,200 sq ft store on July 18th. They own the land and are developing the brand new building themselves, which is rare among startups!

Upcoming Events & WORKSHOPS

It’s almost time for the Up & Coming Conference! We’re so excited to see you September 14 - 16th in St. Paul, MN. Over 150 startup cooperators and experts have already registered - and it’s not too late to join them! Spots on the tour buses are filling up and the discounted room rates end on August 23rd, so register and book your room today.

SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL STARTUPS

Calling all open food co-ops! You know just how transformative a thriving food co-op can be for a community. We’re asking you to chip in to support startup food co-ops across the country who are working so hard to build their own food co-op for their own community. You can donate directly, or help your community support new food co-ops through your Round Up program or patronage rebate. Learn more by contacting Mychaela Brandle at mychaela@fci.coop. Thank you for helping make new food co-ops possible!

 

“It is with gratitude to the food co-op community and FCI that our co-op has made a commitment to grow the cooperative movement by growing our own co-op as well as helping support start-up food co-ops through funding of FCI with annual donations. I invite you all to join us in this commitment to support start-ups.” ~ Rochelle Prunty, River Valley Co-op

DONATE

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