Can you imagine that, by becoming a member in the supermarket, you have the possibility of accessing hundreds of quality, local products with the most competitive price? Well, it exists and is already in Spain: the cooperative supermarket. This purchase model seeks the sustainability and a change in perception which is totally necessary to stop the damage that is being caused to the environment. With this objective it was opened The female bear in Madrid (Avenida de Asturias, Tetuán neighborhood), the first in the capital. Do you want to find out more about this innovative idea? Keep reading!
What is a cooperative supermarket?
Perhaps it is a somewhat unknown concept, but the truth is that it has been implemented in society since the 70s. Back in 1973, the first cooperative supermarket opened in New York. It was called Park Slope Food Coop. “We offer a diversity of products with an emphasis on organic foods, minimally processed and healthy. We try to avoid products that depend on the exploitation of others. We support the non-toxic and sustainable agriculture”Says its website. This initiative made a deep impression and served as inspiration for so many other supermarkets that came later.
So what exactly is a cooperative supermarket? At first glance it may seem like a very conventional store, but its operation is far from being this way. To get started, only members can buy from it. Therefore, by becoming a partner, you become a customer as well as an owner. Have decision capacity at the same time as the doors open to all kinds of products that seek to be respectful with the environment, healthy and at a good price.
La Osa, a local and sustainable supermarket
With that idea was born The female bear. As stated on their website that "gives access to a healthier and more sustainable food in exchange for the participation of its cooperative members in the tasks of the supermarket ”. What participation is that? Well, do volunteer work for three hours each month in addition to a contribution of 100€ to social capital - since it is a company nonprofit-.
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What differentiates La Osa from the large supermarket chains? Through this self-management model, operating costs are reduced to the point of being able to offer best prices relative to other stores. With this, in addition to offering quality and local food, it helps to raise awareness in society about the way we eat and how this affects the environment.
The female bear It has been cooking since 2014 -under the name of 2decologico-, when its promoters started a small project that carried the values of the cooperative supermarket that today already has more than 1.000 members. They happened to be a organic food store (on Noviciado 9 street), until his project took the leap and began to prepare to be what it is today.
Paris and New York, precedents
As we said before, this purchasing model has been in society for several decades now. Between the cooperative supermarkets more prominent are the aforementioned Park Slope Coop (New York) and the louve (Paris). In fact, these two supermarkets have been the ones that served as a reference for the creation of La Osa; especially the Parisian, who visited to see its operation and management. They opened in 2016 and since then they have only grown.
The cooperative supermarket model expands in Spain
The La Osa project is having an impressive reception, especially considering that it is an idea underdeveloped in the country. So much so that, although the one located in the Tetuán neighborhood is the best known, they are carrying out other plans to expand this model throughout Spain. Bioliberian (Getafe), Food Coop BCN (Barcelona), Supercope (Madrid) or supercoop (Manresa) are examples that the idea of a sustainable and self-managed market is here to stay.
La Osa is 800 square meters full of products that rigorously respond to six factors that guarantee their value: quality, environmental impact, closeness, ethical production, fair price y the need of the community. The new way of buying - and consuming - has come stomping to Madrid. Every day more people decide to collaborate with this project, ensuring a healthier diet. Do you sign up for cooperative supermarket?
