We need you! There are plenty of volunteer opportunities for owners willing to help make our co-op a reality.
1006+ Owners
1006 Owners and Growing!
Building community through food.
It's About You
Grocery cooperatives are owned by the people who shop at the store, and are created through the efforts of volunteers. Before the doors can open, HGC needs to have 1000 owners! You can help reach this goal in several ways:
Our Plan
Hudson Grocery Cooperative proposes opening a community owned grocery store in an attempt to bring many of these grocery dollars back home to Hudson. HGC will serve not only the Hudson community, but the surrounding communities as well.
The Benefits
In addition to proving groceries to the community, HGC will grow the local food market by providing consumers a consistent source for locally produced goods, encouraging nearby family farms and independent businesses to sell products close to home, and partnering with other local food-based businesses to source local products. We will provide area farmers, including those who sell direct at Hudson farmers markets, through Community Supported Agriculture, and/or by subscription, a secondary market to vend their products. Because our cooperative is focused more on creating a healthy and sustainable local foods system and less on generating the largest profit possible, we have the flexibility to purchase items from many small vendors rather than one large, cost-efficient outfit.
How It Works
HGC is owned and run by the people who want to shop at the store. Each owner purchases four shares of stock in the cooperative, making a one-time investment of $80. Owners elect the Board of Directors annually to determine how the cooperative should be run. Owners provide significant input regarding how HGC can best serve the needs of its owners and the larger community. Some ideas already proposed include having a bakery, offering a commercial kitchen for rent or for classes, and partnering with farmers markets to co-host monthly winter farmers markets. The next two years will be spent building our owner base and listening to what the community wants out of a grocery co-op. By the time the doors to our store open, we hope to have well over 1000 owners – with a thousand voices participating in governance.
Latest Blogs
Check out our blog for ideas, resources and information relevant to you, your family and your community. We'll keep you up to date on progress being made to get us to a store opening as well as resources such as recipes and community events happening in our area.
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Fill the Shelves Challenge
Are you as excited about the news that we start operating YOUR store on Friday, DecemberRead more
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$50K by Giving Tuesday Challenge
Are you as excited about the news that the co-op is acquiring Fresh & Natural FoodsRead more
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Co-op Agrees to Purchase Fresh & Natural Foods
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Hudson Grocery Cooperative Announces Acquisition of Fresh and Natural Foods Assets [Hudson, WI,Read more
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We Need You!
Why do we raise the funds needed to open our store from co-op owners? Because co-opsRead more
A Co-op is Good for You and Our Community!
It's Time
As a forward-thinking community, it’s time to bring a grocery cooperative to Hudson. The Hudson Grocery Cooperative will not only be convenient, but a signature organization representative of our community’s values.
Fresh and Healthy
Food cooperatives provide members with locally grown products that are consistently fresh and healthy. As food lingers on shelves in a typical grocery store it loses nutritional value. Cooperatives stock the freshest food possible which has a positive impact on your health.
Environmentally Sound
The less miles your food has to travel to reach your purchase destination the better it is for the environment. Think about it. Less miles travelled = Less pollution from transport vehicles.
Our Carbon Footprint
Whenever possible food is not stored in plastic, cardboard or plastic at a food cooperative. This reduces waste and directly impacts our carbon footprint. Who doesn’t think that’s a good thing?
Sound Economic Decision
Food cooperatives buy directly from farmers so the markup typically experienced at grocery stores does not exist. You’re supporting your local farmers while also supplying jobs in our community when our cooperative is a true storefront.
Coming Together
Food cooperatives are about bringing our community together. Meet the growers of your food, volunteer and meet your neighbors while supporting local business and each other.
Volunteer or Join a Committee
We need your help to make this co-op a reality! Whether you are interested in committing to serving on a committee until the doors open, or can help out with a single event, your help is appreciated and needed!
Have a flair for marketing, public relations or graphic design? Our Marketing and Communications Committee would love to have you!
Are numbers your thing? Check out the Finance and Fundraising Committee.
Super organized? The Ownership and Volunteer Committee would like to meet you.
