About Co-ops
Mission Statement
The South Royalton Market Food Co-op is dedicated to providing high quality, diverse products to our community. We emphasize our fresh, local products, augmented by a range of natural and conventional grocery needs at the lowest mark-up feasible for store viability.
We exist to be a community resource center as a grocery store, gathering place, information and education center, and a distributor of food to local organizations, agencies and people who are housebound.
The South Royalton Market Food Co-op strives to be the market of choice for our community. We are a cooperative enterprise, owned by and responsible to our local members and managed by staff who are compensated with competitive wages and benefits. We are a bright, comfortable, affordable, clean and friendly store. In short, we aim to be the “heart of the community”.
The Seven Cooperative Principles
First adopted in 1844 by the Rochdale Society for Equitable Pioneers in Rochdale, England. Last updated by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) in 1995.
- Voluntary and open membership
a.) Anti-discrimination
b.) Motivations and rewards - Democratic member control
- Member economic participation
a.) Democratic Control
b.) Limitations on member compensation & appropriate use of surpluses - Autonomy and independence
- Education, training, and information
- Cooperation among co-operatives
- Concern for community
