More then ever we need to examine how our food is grown, processed and sold due to drought, climate change, food shortages and interest in healthy living. By joining and shopping at the Co-op you are supporting a business where these issues have been considered when buying and stocking the shelves. This means you can shop easily knowing that things that matter to you and your family are taken to heart.

Well, the short answer is that we want it to work. Starting up a retail Food Co-op is like starting up a new business, and we know the alarmingly high failure rates for small businesses across the country. Our retail Food Co-op will be a small business, although a not-for-profit community owned business.

To ensure its success in the long term, a business plan is needed to shape and guide it over the next few years. We have received a grant and have contracted the services of Fianian Research and South East Access to assist us in our planning.

 

It was pretty exciting to receive almost 300 surveys back from 700 distributed - that is a very high return and indicates the kind of interest the Food Co-op has generated. Some clear indications are that people are interested in healthy, whole foods and especially locally and organically grown fruits and vegetables! Other survey results show that people preferred Ulladulla as a site for the Co-op and that they wanted to see it have normal business hours.

We had lots of good comments and a definite interest in people becoming members - a crucial aspect of the business. For the complete results visit the web site by clicking this link. The Survey Results

Some of the differences you will notice shopping at the at the Co-op as opposed to the supermarket are: foods supplied in bulk for cost effectiveness, a very different range of products, fresh local and regional produce (including organic and biodynamic). You will also find food for special diets, minimum packaging and encouragement to BYO containers and bags and lots of information. All this in a beautifully designed healthy environment with great service.

A Food Co-op relies on a base of members who all want roughly the same thing - access to good quality healthy, whole foods and fruits & vegetables. That combined need is the driving force behind the success of any co-op. Joining the Co-op has some benefits as well, like discounts on shopping, volunteering opportunities and a chance to have a say (1 membership = 1 vote).

You don't need to be a member to shop at the Co-op, but your membership money goes towards creating a unique community grocery store that has the potential to shape our community through offering employment, stimulating cottage industry and working with community agencies. And that is not to mention that a Co-op seeks to put excess profit back into the community.

The Feasibility study has begun under the auspices of Fiona Stewart (Fianian Research) and David Stephens (South East Access). The Consulting has been covered by a grant of $7,500 from the Office of Fair Trading and the generous donations of in-kind support from the consultants.

We'll keep you updated as we go and will regularly ask for information and opinions through the newsletter.
List Your Skills

Are you a carpenter? plumber? electrician? Do you have bookkeeping, research or organisational skills or are you good on the phone? a capable seamstress? Visit our website and fill out our skills questionaire to assist the co-op in its start-up phases. We'll contact you when we have a job requiring volunteers. Please help make it happen!

We are creating a 'suppliers of local produce' list. If you grow fruit and vegetables or make edible products or household goods (i.e. candles, soap) please contact us to so you can be added to the database or fill out the Producers Survey

Local/regional would be considered within approximately 200km.