About Us
“Our Vision is a Well-Nourished Community
Cultivated Through Cooperation.”
“Our Vision is a Well-Nourished Community Cultivated Through Cooperation.”
Moving On
Moving On
But as the Co-op grew, its downtown location became cramped, and it was plagued by the perennial Hanover problem: parking.
In 1962, the Board of Directors of the 2,000-member Co-op authorized purchase of the Hanover Co-op Food Store’s present site. In 1963, the Co-op moved into its new quarters at 45 South Park Street.
But as the Co-op grew, its downtown location became cramped, and it was plagued by the perennial Hanover problem: parking. In 1962, the Board of Directors of the 2,000-member Co-op authorized purchase of the Hanover Co-op Food Store’s present site. In 1963, the Co-op moved into its new quarters at 45 South Park Street.
History of the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society, Inc.
In January of 1936, 17 Hanover, New Hampshire, and Norwich, Vermont, residents formed the Hanover Consumer’s Club—bringing the cooperative movement to the Upper Valley.
Initially, members of the fledgling co-op pooled orders for potatoes, oranges, and maple syrup and arranged for discounts of gasoline and fuel oil with local suppliers. A year later, Co-op members incorporated as the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society and opened a small retail store in a basement on Hanover’s Main Street. Annual sales that year reached $11,404.
Within a few years, the Co-op moved to the site now occupied by the Dartmouth Bookstore and opened Hanover’s first self-service grocery store. Here, the Co-op grew and prospered for 20 years, enjoying steady increases in membership and sales. This story is vividly told by founding members of the Co-op in the video “Hand in Hand: A History of the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society,”
Moving On
But as the Co-op grew, its downtown location became cramped, and it was plagued by the perennial Hanover problem: parking. In 1962, the Board of Directors of the 2,000-member Co-op authorized purchase of the Hanover Co-op Food Store’s present site. In 1963, the Co-op moved into its new quarters at 45 South Park Street.
History of the Co-op Food Stores
In January of 1936, 17 Hanover, New Hampshire, and Norwich, Vermont, residents formed the Hanover Consumer’s Club—bringing the cooperative movement to the Upper Valley.
Initially, members of the fledgling co-op pooled orders for potatoes, oranges, and maple syrup and arranged for discounts of gasoline and fuel oil with local suppliers. A year later, Co-op members incorporated as the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society and opened a small retail store in a basement on Hanover’s Main Street. Annual sales that year reached $11,404.
Moving On
But as the Co-op grew, its downtown location became cramped, and it was plagued by the perennial Hanover problem: parking. In 1962, the Board of Directors of the 2,000-member Co-op authorized purchase of the Hanover Co-op Food Store’s present site. In 1963, the Co-op moved into its new quarters at 45 South Park Street.
Within a few years, the Co-op moved to the site now occupied by the Dartmouth Bookstore and opened Hanover’s first self-service grocery store. Here, the Co-op grew and prospered for 20 years, enjoying steady increases in membership and sales. This story is vividly told by founding members of the Co-op in the video “Hand in Hand: A History of the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society,”
Today
Today, the Co-op Food Stores employs around 400 people, with more than 400 local producers, serving more than 33,000 member households. Sales each year are closing in on $100 million. In 2024, the Co-op had to bid farewell to the Lyme Road Market, but are thankful for all that the brave little store brought to the community and the place of honor it has held in our story.
Learn more about us by viewing our Business Reports page.
Expansion
Since then the Co-op has continued to flourish. The Hanover Co-op Food Store has been expanded and renovated several times to meet the needs of its growing membership. In 1985, the Co-op purchased the adjacent Park Street Mobil station, now the Co-op Service Center, and in 1995, opened a second Service Center on Lyme Road in Hanover.
By 1996, the Co-op had almost 18,000 members, and sales had grown to over $20 million. Members voted to open a second Co-op Food Store in order to relieve crowding at the popular Hanover store. The Lebanon Co-op Food Store opened in October, 1997. The Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society, Inc.—which had always been known as the Hanover Co-op—became the Co-op Food Stores.
Membership in the Co-op grew by leaps and bounds with the opening of the Lebanon store, and once again, the Hanover store felt the pressure of increased patronage. In May 1999, the Co-op converted the Lyme Road Service Center into a convenience store, keeping the gas pumps and adding a selection of grocery items to what was renamed the Co-op Community Market. In 2008, the 1,000-square-foot facility was replaced by a new energy-efficient building with 3,500 square feet of retail space.
A Commissary Kitchen in Wilder, Vermont, was added in 2000 to meet member demand for prepared foods at all locations. In 2010, the Co-op established a third food store in the community of White River Junction, Vermont.
How Our Co-op Works
Our co-op works the way all co-ops work: We’re member-owned!
At the heart of how a co-op works is the concept of member-ownership. Simply put, a co-op is a business owned by the people who use it. This is a very different way of doing business. The co-op exists to serve its members, rather than to return profits to a single individual or small group of outside investors. If you’re a co-op member, in addition to getting the products you need, you also have a say in your co-op’s direction and business decisions.
More than 800 million people around the world belong to cooperatives, and 100 million people worldwide work for co-ops. Thriving co-ops build strong, robust local economies. To quote the late Sid Pobihushchy, a visionary cooperative thinker and activist, “Community good and individual good is linked. Cooperation is the ideal state of society.”
- Has food and product access for all community members based on their needs and wants, including foods and products that are sourced or produced:
- Locally
- Ethically
- Sustainably
- By businesses owned by underrepresented populations
- By businesses that value the well being of their employees
- Healthfuly
- Fairly priced
- Has access to services that support all community members based on their needs, including transportation needs.
- Participates in a vibrant cooperative ecosystem.
Please email (April Harkness) to ensure this is the latest version or for any questions related to the Board of Directors and Policy Governance.
EMPLOYEES
We value the well-being of our employees and their families. We prioritize the well-being of our employees and their families by providing comprehensive support, fostering a healthy work-life balance, and promoting professional development opportunities.
COMMUNITY
We value a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. We are dedicated to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community by actively engaging with individuals from different backgrounds, advocating for equal opportunities, and fostering an environment of respect, acceptance, and belonging.
LOCAL
We value a resilient local food system and economy. We actively contribute to a resilient local food system and economy by sourcing locally, supporting local producers and businesses, and collaborating with community partners to ensure sustainable and thriving local ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENT
We value being a regenerative business with a positive environmental impact. We promote environmental stewardship through sustainable practices and active investment in initiatives that have a positive and measurable impact on the environment.
7 Cooperative Principles
The cooperative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.
Voluntary & Open Membership
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.
Member Economic Participation
Autonomy & Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.
Education, Training & Information
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives.
Co-operation Among Co-operatives
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
Concern for Community
Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
