Maastricht's first cooperative store opens doors

On February 18, Maastricht's first cooperative store will open its doors. At Gedeelde Weelde, everyone can get their daily fresh, local and organic groceries.

The motivation of the cooperative is to offer products and services together based on the principles of 'earth care, people care and fair share'. The cooperative is deliberately structured as a multi-stakeholder cooperative. This means that all the links in the food chain are represented. Farmers, suppliers, retailers and customers all have an equal voice and ensure healthy and culturally appropriate food, produced in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner. Together they operate the Gedeelde Weelde store and share the flow of goods and money, knowledge and inspiration between producers, retailers and consumers.

Everyone who cares about the cooperative can become a member. Each member therefore contributes to his/her 'own store' and can have a say in the future direction. The cooperative was founded by five members in December 2015. Meanwhile, that number has grown to 120 members and consists of a range of people from different backgrounds, all with a passion for caring for the earth and each other. "This is reflected in the offerings, which range from fresh heads of lettuce to yogurt, from regional cheeses to rice, from apple juice to Italian natural wines and from chocolate to toilet paper. And there is a selected selection of meat and fish. The products are of organic or biodynamic quality or from a short chain producer," said Christiane Gronenberg, one of the initiators of Shared Wealth.

Special and challenging method new in the Netherlands

The way Gedelde Weelde functions, a combination of cooperative multi-stakeholder structure with room for entrepreneurship, is new in the Netherlands. So also new for all kinds of institutions such as the tax authorities, governments and the bank. Christiane: "The aim of Gedeelde Weelde is to shape a new economy. It is a company that is designed and supported by citizens and operates in the real economy. This is partly due to the size of the group. After all, as a group you can bring about much more. As an individual, this would have been a huge challenge, but with all the (active) members, this cooperative with its progressive way of working is already a thunderous success."

Tips for working cooperatively

As an expert by experience, Shared Wealth can recommend starting a cooperative, "but if you want to work cooperatively, really do it," Christiane says. "Be prepared that in a cooperative you are trying to exchange ideas, form a common view and make decisions. That takes time, but then you are also building something that will really make a difference as an initiative."

There is always room for new members

The range of products can always be richer and new members who get excited about Shared Wealth are very welcome. Those interested in entrepreneurial membership and producers can apply at info@gedeeldeweelde.nl. Want to know more about Shared Wealth or the cooperative and membership? Read it on the website.

Curious about Shared Wealth? The store is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

© Shared Wealth / photo MalleMuze

Sources: Divided Wealth