BEES Coop

Launched in March 2014, BEES Coop (bees-coop.be) is a citizens driven project with the aim of creating the first consumers owned supermarket in Belgium. The main mission of BEES Coop is to allow every citizen to buy quality food - mostly organic and local products - at affordable prices, up to 30% lower than the market average. This objective is strictly linked with a strong attention for producers - assuring them fair prices and supplying conditions - and the environment - preferring loose supplies. The business model of BEES Coop is innovative for a supermarket. In our shop consumers will have a triple hat of consumers, owners and managers of the cooperative. Main decisions will be taken by its members at the General Assembly. Along with that, members will be asked to work as volonteers for 2h45 a month (main and technical tasks will be assured by a team of professional workers). This will: - reduce costs for the cooperatives and economies will be used for reducing final prices to consumers; - allow consumers to regain an active role in consumption, driving it towards a new sustainable path for people and the environment. - demonstrate that a different way of making business in retail sector is possible. We planned to open the supermarket by the end of 2016 in a popular area of Brussels. The shop will be a one stop shopping, distributed on a 700m2 surface. Currently, BEES Coop is organised as an association of 60 volonteers, working in 8 small working groups on different aspects of the project development. One of them is the purchasing group, counting more than 180 households and 280 products (Februray 2015). The aim of the purchasing group is to be the laboratory for the future cooperative in which we test products and all participative activities. Other groups as BEES are growing up in Brussels and in Belgium. Should you need more information on our projet, do not hesitate to contact us for more information, adiveces or help !