We are a not-for-profit food co-op that knows good food. We carry local, fresh, organic, sustainable, natural, Fair Trade, ethical, bulk and affordable products.

Members own the Co-op, share the benefits of it and have the opportunity to work in it. The Co-op is managed with consensus-based decision making and all members are invited to participate. The Co-op employs three part time managers. Members act as volunteer co-ordinators staffing the store, and perform the other tasks required to keep the Co-op operating. Click here for the Co-op’s rules of operation.

Membership

Everyone is welcome to shop at the Co-op, but members receive a 20% discount if they volunteer 1 hour per month. Membership is individual and charged on a sliding scale according to income. The Membership year starts in July; if you join after then, the membership charge is reduced proportionately.

If you’d like to become a member, ask the volunteer at the counter for a form.  New members receive a 20% discount on their first shop at the Co-op.

After that, members will receive a 20% discount if they volunteer for 1 hour per month. There’s also a further 10% discount if you place a bulk order.
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How to Shop at the Co-op

The Co-op stocks a range of goods – both packaged and unpackaged. Packaged goods can be purchased just like at an ordinary shop, and include chips, dairy products and alternatives, noodles, juices, soy milk, canned veggies, and much more.

However, the Co-op’s speciality is unpackaged goods, which are sold in large bulk bins and include chocolate, pasta, flours, grains, pulses, herbs and spices, nuts, cleaning products and much more. The best approach is to come prepared with containers and bags from home, then follow the simple steps below. It may seem daunting at first, but doesn’t take much effort and the volunteer co-ordinators are always on hand to assist.

• Particularly if you are buying from the bulk bins, please wash your hands in the kitchen. Please note that the Co-op is in the process of purchasing “no handling” food grade plastic dispensers which will help us keep everything clean.
• If you didn’t bring a list from home, pick up a notepad and pen from the counter immediately opposite the front door.
• Scout out what you’re after – there are signs and the friendly volunteers and other members will be happy to help you.
• Weigh your containers and record the weight on the notepad or on the container itself.  This will be used to subtract the cost of the container when purchases are being calculated. If you are using plastic or paper bags or other light containers you can note the amount- which might be a few cents – or you can consider the few cents a donation to maintaining our Co-op.
• Fill your containers and when you’re ready, take it to the checkout
• If you have an accidental spill, please clean it up. There are rags, brooms, etc in the kitchen you can use. If you’ve spilled a large quantity or the item is an expensive one, please consider making a donation to cover costs – the Co-op has a standardised very low mark-up and is a non profit organisation.
• If you forget, or need more containers, there is a bench with used bags, jars, etc, although it can be a bit of a lucky dip.  There are new paper bags available to purchase cheaply.

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Pricing

There is a price on all individually packaged items and on bulk containers. For non-members, the price is as marked. Members who contribute one hour of work for per month receive a 20% discount.

Bulk orders  receive a 10% discount in addition to the usual discount for member.  Members can request bulk orders over the phone, by email or in person during opening hours. Member discount is calculated on the total purchase.

• Membership = no discount
• Membership Bulk Buy = 10% discount
• Active membership = 20% discount
• Bulk buy active membership = 20% + 10% discount (approx 28%)

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Facilities

The Co-op has an accessibility ramp at the Barry Drive end of the building which may be of assistance to people with restricted mobility/a pram, etc. Children are welcome at the co-op, and there are some sofas and a low table that you’re welcome to use.

The Co-op has a small commercial kitchen which is used for preparing some items for sale and occasional catering.

Press

Click the image below (and then click on that image) to see an enlarged version of the article about the Co-op in the Food & Wine section of the Canberra Times from 2 December 2009:

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Rules

The rules cover membership, meetings, the management structure, and how we organise money and get audited. The rules are several pages long and full of a lot of legal language. They are fairly daunting to read. Some of the rules we have no choice about because the legislation says we have to do things that way, or more or less that way. Some of the parts we can have more say over how we want it.

It is important to remember that the rules don’t tell us how to do everything and we set up our own guidelines and policies about how most things are done in our co-op.

You can get a copy of the full rules either at the co-op on paper or through the linked PDF below. They are many pages long and take a lot of paper so please use the website or share paper copies if you can.  You may also want to look at the Cooperatives Act 2002.

Rules of Operation – Food Co-op Shop

 

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