„Dobrze” Food Coop is a consumer coop providing affordable organic food to people in Warsaw, Poland. As the first and grassroot cooperative in the country we run shops with organic and seasonal food. Are shops are members-based, however remain open to public.
Watch a short documentary about us by aroundtheworld.coop:
The first shop was opened in 2014 and the second one in 2016. Both are based in centre of Warsaw. „Dobrze” Food Coopeartive strives to create an alternative to supermarkets and luxury organic stores. Our shops are shared property of the members who govern it according to international cooperative principles. As for 2023 our cooperative gathers 206 households, employs 18 people and cooperates with around 40 small-scale farms during a year.
Besides social entrepreneurship we are developed an educational program aimed at promoting alternative food systems, in particular food cooperatives. In 2018 we launched a pilot project dedicated to young farmers. During the training cycle, we presented the opportunities resulting from organic production and short supply chains. In past years we’ve been involved in advocacy in favour of small-scale farming in Poland and leading campaign on negative effects of corporate food distribution system. We are a founding member of the Nyeleni Polska Food Sovereignty Network.
Our Mission
Our goal is to support a food system that fulfils needs of consumers and producers and take care of environment. We believe that direct cooperation between consumers and producers contributes to strengthening active citizenship and creates fair economy, beneficial for all involved parties.
We believe that direct cooperation between consumers and producers contributes to strengthening active citizenship and creates fair economy, beneficial for all involved parties.
Milestones
★In 2022 we changed legal entity and we set up a cooperative and we became a multi-stakeholder cooperative. We aim to build a wide cooperative environment together with our suppliers
★In 2021 we moved from oul location at Wilcza to Niepodległości (bigger shop)
★In 2018 we launched a pilot project dedicated to young farmers encouraging them to organic production and short supply chains
★ In 2017 we introduced senior discount – for the eldery people who are not members of our coop
★ In 2017 we were orginising campaign called ‘Why I do not buy in supermarket?’
★In 2016 we became a member of Nyeleni Polska Food Sovereignty Network.
★In October 2015 we organised Food Coops Gathering dedicated to solidarity economy and food democracy
★ In July 2016 we opened our second shop in center of Warsaw
★In 2014 we set up an association Kooperatywa Spożywcza “Dobrze” and we opened first community owned grocery store in Poland, based in center of Warsaw
How do we function?
Our shop belongs to and is managed by its members. Each of us works in the shop three hours per month and contributes a monthly membership fee. This way we are able to lower the logistical costs and, as a result, the cost of food available to our members.
As for mid 2020 are a diverse community of more than 350 households, which means we are a diverse community of ca. 500 members whose efficient collaboration is based on clear sets of benefits and duties.
★ We have reduced our waste production – instead of plastic bags we use reusable packaging and we compost organic waste
★ We have organized more than 70 educational and community building events
★ We have received award for the best non-governmental initiative voted by Warsaw residents as well as an experts’ prize
★ We are debt-free (both shops were opened thanks to donations from members and community via crowd-funding platform)
★ We are widely recognized as a practical alternative for both supermarkets offering industrial food as well as expensive ecological groceries
How are our groceries different from a regular stores?
★ Our groceries are jointly owned by all the members of the cooperative
★ Non-members have the right to shop in stores
★ All members have equal vote in matters concerning the growth of our initiative (by attending strategic meetings and general assemblies)
★ We operate thanks to membership fees and voluntary work of our members
★ Members buy food at reduced prices
★ All profits are used to finance our growth and fulfil our statutory objectives
★ We buy seasonal food directly from our suppliers – trusted organic farms
★ As much as possible we strive to ensure that our food is sourced locally
★ We organize educational and community building events
Our history
The Coop was established in July 2013 by only three people. More people willing to develop the initiative joined after the first open meeting. In the beginning the Coop functioned as a non-formal group simply through organising weekly group purchases of healthy, eco food coming from local farmers. Throughout the first year of activity, regular meetings were held in a makeshift shop set up in spaces shared by some friendly NGOs. In the meantime the idea of opening a coop shop started to take shape.
As new memebers were joining, ground rules were developed. The group was registered as an official asociation and successfuly rented a communal space in the city centre of Warsaw. A crowdfunding campaign was organised which ensured the financial resources necessary to renovate the future shop. In August 2014 Poland’s first grassroots coop shop since 1989 was launched! It was located at Wilcza 29a in Warsaw. In 2016 we organised another crowdfunding campaign and we opened second shop at Andersa 27, Warsaw. In 2021 we changed location of the first shop for a bigger space in Mokotów district. And now we run two community shops at Niepodłegłości 88 and Andersa 27. Both shops are managed collectively by all members of the „Dobrze” Food Coop – around 300 people.
Visit our stores: Niepodległości 88, Warsaw, Andersa 27, Warsaw, Poland
Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/kooperatywadobrze
During our General Assembly meeting
Our 7th birthday
