Introducing the Co+op Basics Program

Food co-ops nationwide have joined together for buying power so we can lower the prices on healthy, organic, and natural foods and pass the savings on to you.

If you’ve been shopping the Co-op the past several weeks, you’ve probably noticed something called “Co+op Basics”—small, eye catching labels that identify a wide variety of products throughout our stores. Wonder what it’s all about?

The Co+op Basics program is a selection of staple foods and household goods—including natural and organic products—that are priced below the suggested retail. The Co-op is able to offer this program not by paying less to employees or farmers, but instead, by working with a network of other cooperatively owned food stores across the country to negotiate lower prices on healthy, organic, and natural products.

Co-ops across the United States offer Co+op Basics, meaning food co-ops have joined together for buying power so we can pass the savings on to you.

“Food co-ops are aligned in our goal to make sure our members and shoppers can afford high-quality, healthful foods that are good for them and their families,” said Bruce Follett, the Co-op’s Director of Merchandising. “The bottom line is that co-ops want good healthy food available to everyone.”

The course of our Co-op is directed by the the Co-op “Ends,” a series of statements that outline the end results the Co-op strives to achieve in the world. The first Co-op End states that because of the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society,

The Upper Valley will have a retail source of food that is affordable, healthy, grown and/or processed locally to the fullest extent possible.

“The Co+op Basics program is in line with our Ends and helps us make sure healthy food is within the reach of shoppers on a budget,” Follett said. “We’re proud of the fact that co-ops are working together to make it happen. It’s cooperatives helping cooperatives.”

Save money and shop the Co+op Basics! Look for labels throughout the stores and stay tuned as more products are added as the program develops. In the meantime, got a question or comment? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at comment@coopfoodstore.com.

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Ken Davis

Ken Davis is the Co-op's senior copywriter. Email him at kdavis@coopfoodstore.com.