2009 updates on food co-ops and buying groups

Autumn 2009

We continue to provide advice and support to food co-ops across the country. Part-time co-ordinators are being recruited in each of the eight regions in England to develop work with food co-ops on a local level. The online food co-ops toolkit was launched last quarter, and has already received excellent feedback. A print version is also available on request (see contact details above).

In the past quarter we have also run a workshop on how to set up a food co-op at a Fresh Ideas event in Winchester for around eight participants from the South East, and a workshop on operation and suppliers for seven participants setting up new food co-ops in London, in partnership with Well London. We have distributed two more issues of our food co-ops e-newsletter to around 400 subscribers.

Spring 2009

In the last quarter, Sustain's food co-ops project officer Maresa Bossano has:

• Organised a lively and well-received national food co-ops conference.
• Given talks to groups in Crystal Palace and Hackney that are thinking of setting up new food co-ops
• Sent information to groups thinking of setting up food co-ops in Hull, Nottingham, Hebden Bridge, and London
• Provided free marketing materials to 18 existing food co-ops.
• Launched a new food co-ops website (www.foodcoops.org).
• Finalised content for the food co-ops toolkit ready for launching in May. Over recent weeks, project officer