Food Co-op Initiative

Food Co-op Initiative Starting a food co-op? Start here. We answer questions, spread great ideas, and share success stories. Starting a new food co-op? Have a question about organizing?

We want to hear from you and find out how we can help! We have a long list of how-to's and recorded webinar training sessions on our website. We're here to help!

Thank you to Weaver Street Market in Raleigh, NC for once again getting "on the map" as an FCI Full Circle food co-op ...
09/13/2026

Thank you to Weaver Street Market in Raleigh, NC for once again getting "on the map" as an FCI Full Circle food co-op donor in 2026!

Did you know that established food co-ops fund 17%+ of FCI's annual budget and are active partners in our work to support future food co-ops via our annual Full Circle co-op campaign?

We are over 45% to our 2026 Full Circle donation goal because of the generous support food co-ops across the US, from big to small, and we need more co-ops to join Weavers Street asap to keep FCI fully funded!

Learn about the three easy ways *your* co-op can donate to FCI and get on our 2026 Full Circle map at www.fci.coop/full-circle !

Why is James D. Watts, Jr, GM of Weaver Street Market in Raleigh-Durham, NC, passionate about his co-op donating to FCI...
09/13/2026

Why is James D. Watts, Jr, GM of Weaver Street Market in Raleigh-Durham, NC, passionate about his co-op donating to FCI and being on our Full Circle co-ops map? Here's what James has to say:

"Weaver Street Market is proud to stand with FCI and the Full Circle co-op community. Established co-ops helped shape our path, and we believe in paying that support forward—helping startup food co-ops build stronger stores, deeper community roots, and a brighter cooperative future."

We are over 45% to our 2026 Full Circle donation goal because of the generous support food co-ops across the US, from big to small, and we need more co-ops to join Weavers Street asap to keep FCI fully funded!

Learn about the three easy ways *your* co-op can donate to FCI and get on our 2026 Full Circle map at www.fci.coop/full-circle !

⏰ Only 1 more week left to apply for the 2027 Peer Learning Group program for food co-ops based in the U.S.https://forms...
09/12/2026

⏰ Only 1 more week left to apply for the 2027 Peer Learning Group program for food co-ops based in the U.S.

https://forms.gle/7UotKQZXvZMWd8VC8

It's a free online opportunity for startup co-ops to meet monthly to learn, discuss, and build community with their peers and experts.

Reteisha Byrd, Board Member of Big River Grocery in Helena, AR says that the program “gave us best practices on how to keep navigating the complexities of food cooperatives.”

Chris Dilley, Director of Startup Support, as well as the Food Co-op Initiative team, would love to have your co-op join next year’s cohort.

Apply by next Sunday, Sept 20.

Questions? Leave them in the comments or send us a DM!

Thank you to Weavers Street Market in Raleigh, NC for once again getting "on the map" as an FCI Full Circle food co-op ...
09/11/2026

Thank you to Weavers Street Market in Raleigh, NC for once again getting "on the map" as an FCI Full Circle food co-op donor!

Did you know that established food co-ops fund 17%+ of FCI's annual budget and are active partners in our work to support future food co-ops via our annual Full Circle co-op campaign?

We are over 45% to our 2026 Full Circle donation goal because of the generous support food co-ops across the US, from big to small, and we need more co-ops to join Weavers Street asap to keep FCI fully funded!

Learn about the three easy ways *your* co-op can donate to FCI and get on our 2026 Full Circle map at www.fci.coop/full-circle !

09/02/2026

Applications for Peer Learning Groups 2027 are NOW OPEN.

Get the support you and your startup food co-op need from other startups and co-op development experts.

Cooperators in similar stages of development meet monthly to learn, discuss, and build community with their peers.

Each group is facilitated by a co-op development expert, and each monthly learning topic is chosen with group input, based on their unique needs.

This program is online and FREE.

Learn more and apply by Sunday, September 20: https://forms.gle/7UotKQZXvZMWd8VC8

The latest edition of the FCI newsletter is live! 📣What trends are we seeing with communities converting existing grocer...
08/28/2026

The latest edition of the FCI newsletter is live! 📣

What trends are we seeing with communities converting existing grocery stores to co-ops?

And how is FCI helping?

How can *YOU* join the 2027 Peer Learning Group program?

Where can you watch our brand new Summer Tech Series?

If you’re on our email list, these answers (and MORE) are in your inbox.

To read the full version, head to https://fci.coop/august-2026

This is for the GMs, CEOs and Department Managers 📣Discuss the challenges and needs you have around AI and tech for your...
08/17/2026

This is for the GMs, CEOs and Department Managers 📣

Discuss the challenges and needs you have around AI and tech for your food co-op!

https://crm.fci.coop/civicrm/event/info?id=330&reset=1

Register TODAY for the Co-op Operations Leaders roundtable this Wednesday, August 19 at 7 pm ET.

This is the final session of the Future-Ready Co-ops Summer Tech series, specifically for operations leaders of food co-ops.

This series is presented by Digico Global, Nova Works Corp and Food Co-op Initiative.

Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference 2027 needs your feedback 📣https://forms.gle/3Vi7554RoLdQJ29r7U&C, the national gathe...
08/13/2026

Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference 2027 needs your feedback 📣

https://forms.gle/3Vi7554RoLdQJ29r7

U&C, the national gathering for food co-ops, centers powerful conversations, movement building, and the needs and knowledge of you!

Lend your voice to shape next year’s conference by taking the short survey

→ https://forms.gle/3Vi7554RoLdQJ29r7

Thank you Clif Family Foundation for supporting the development of new food co-ops across the US for the 4th year in a r...
08/11/2026

Thank you Clif Family Foundation for supporting the development of new food co-ops across the US for the 4th year in a row!

It is rare to find funding for our work that is "unrestricted" - meaning it doesn't have to be for one specific short-term project, but instead can be used to pay our staff and keep our core programs running to keep successfully supporting the opening of new food co-ops across the US.

We're so grateful to CFF, because their grants to us are just that, "unrestricted", and we appreciate what a huge vote of confidence that is in our work.

From our Peer Learning Programs, to the Up & Coming Conference, to our free virtual FCI Live video series - the Clif Family Foundation is helping make it all possible!

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