What Lo Scoiattolo does

Lo Scoiattolo ONLUS Società Cooperativa Sociale is an Italian social cooperative founded in 1988, headquartered in Monzuno (sede legale) and operating from Sasso Marconi (sede operativa) in the Bologna province. Incorporated under Legge 381/1991 and registered as ONLUS, its mission is the social and professional integration of vulnerable individuals and people with disabilities through real work, while delivering commercial services across multiple business lines. The cooperative serves a heterogeneous set of customer segments: conscious local consumers seeking organic and artisanal food, seven municipalities (Castel di Casio, Loiano, Monghidoro, Monzuno, Ozzano Emilia, Pianoro, San Lazzaro di Savena) contracting animal shelter and cleaning services, members of ethical and solidarity networks (Luoghi Comuni), and solidarity economy entities across Emilia-Romagna.

The cooperative operates 11+ distinct business lines anchored by the Bottega Volante e-commerce platform (selling ~1,059 products from 38 local producers via weekly ordering cycles with transparent dual-line pricing), the Cellulosa social venue (housing both the Bottega storefront and the Osteria Sociale restaurant), the Stoviglioteca (reusable dishware rental for events), ARESS (a mutual insurance agency partnered with Assimoco and CAES), the Canile Intercomunale Savena (animal shelter under intercommunal contract), cleaning and maintenance services, cultural programming at the Cinema Teatro di Sasso Marconi, and management of the Fondo Regionale Economia Solidale as Soggetto Gestore for Emilia-Romagna. The technology stack is entirely off-the-shelf: WordPress-based websites (www.scoiattolo.org, bottega.scoiattolo.org, partecipazione.scoiattolo.org), Jetpack analytics, Google Search Console, and PayPal for payments; no proprietary platform or AI/ML capabilities are documented.

Revenue mechanics are multi-stream and not publicly disclosed. Pricing is transparent unit pricing for products (e.g., €1.50 for 250g cannellini beans; €0.05–€0.10 per Stoviglioteca item), insurance premiums are quoted on request, and municipal contracts and the regional fund management role generate professional-services fees. Public subsidies disclosed for FY2022 totaled €6,184 (CINQUE PER MILLE €3,851, FONDO SVILUPPO €833, COMUNE DI SAN LAZZARO €1,500), reported per Legge 124/2017 transparency obligations. Distribution is hybrid: e-commerce with weekly Wednesday/Friday delivery, physical pickup at Cellulosa, direct sales for ARESS insurance, and institutional contracts for municipal services.

Name

Lo Scoiattolo

Legal name

Lo Scoiattolo ONLUS Società Cooperativa Sociale

Website

https://scoiattolo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lo Scoiattolo is an Italian social cooperative founded in 1988 in the Bolognese Apennines, integrating vulnerable individuals through real work across 11+ business lines including e-commerce, mutual insurance, animal shelter management, cultural venues, and regional fund administration serving local consumers, municipalities, and solidarity economy entities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social cooperative services (multi-service local community enterprise)

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Community Food Services (624210), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Member-Owned Food Cooperatives (CRAHALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Co-ops with In-Store Prepared Foods & Deli (CRAHALAF), Farm-to-Consumer Cooperative Markets (Local Producer Co-ops) (CRAHALAG), Community-Owned / Nonprofit Grocery Stores (CRAHALAB)

Keywords

• Social cooperative services
• Local food e-commerce
• Ethical insurance brokerage
• Animal shelter management
• Social inclusion employment

Headquarters

HQ city

Sasso Marconi

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Bottega Volante E-commerce: Online sales of local, organic, and artisanal food and household products through the bottega.scoiattolo.org platform. Orders are placed weekly; deliveries are made on Wednesdays and Fridays. The model is based on a short supply chain connecting local producers directly to consumers, with transparent pricing showing both producer compensation and distribution costs.
2. Cellulosa - Osteria Sociale: The Cellulosa facility houses an Osteria Sociale (social restaurant) open Monday-Friday 9:00-15:00 and Wednesday-Saturday 18:00-24:00, serving healthy, organic food from small local farms. The Osteria is managed together with people with disabilities, serving as both a revenue stream and a social integration tool.
3. Cleaning and Maintenance Services: Cantiere di pulizie e manutenzione — the cooperative operates cleaning and maintenance service contracts, providing work opportunities for socially fragile individuals.
4. Canile Intercomunale Savena Management: Since 2004, the cooperative has managed the Canile Intercomunale Savena, serving 7 municipalities (Castel di Casio, Loiano, Monghidoro, Monzuno, Ozzano Emilia, Pianoro, San Lazzaro di Savena). Revenue comes from municipal service contracts and public donations (5x1000, c/c postal and bank donations).
5. Cinema-Teatro Management: Management of the Cinema Teatro di Sasso Marconi, providing cultural programming and events, contributing to both revenue and the cooperative's social mission.
6. ARESS Insurance Agency: Since end of 2012, the cooperative operates as an insurance intermediary under the ARESS brand (Assicurazione delle Reti Etico Solidali e Sociali), offering mutual insurance products in partnership with Assimoco. Revenues come from insurance commissions on policies placed.
7. Public Subsidies and Grants: The cooperative receives public funding including Cinque per Mille (2020-2021: €3,851), Fondo Sviluppo contribution (€833), and municipal operating grants (Comune di San Lazzaro: €1,500), totaling €6,184 in 2022.
8. Stoviglioteca Rental: The Stoviglioteca (dishware lending library) provides reusable plates, glasses, and cutlery rentals for events in the municipalities of Sasso Marconi, Marzabotto, and Monte San Pietro, reducing single-use plastic waste. Revenue from rental fees for event organizers.
9. Fondo Regionale Economia Solidale - Soggetto Gestore: Lo Scoiattolo acts as the managing entity (Soggetto Gestore) for the Regional Solidarity Economy Fund in Emilia-Romagna. The fund provides interest rate subsidies for ethical finance loans to solidarity economy entities. The cooperative earns a managing/administrative fee for processing and administering the fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lo Scoiattolo is a multi-service social cooperative that delivers a portfolio of community-rooted services under one organization. Its commercial core is the Bottega Volante e-commerce platform selling local, organic and artisanal food and household products directly from a network of ~38 Bolognese Apennines producers. The cooperative also runs a social restaurant (Osteria Sociale), a communal animal shelter (Canile Intercomunale Savena) for 7 municipalities, an ethical insurance agency (ARESS), regional fund administration (Fondo Regionale Economia Solidale), cleaning and maintenance services, occupational workshops for social integration, and cultural programming at the Cinema Teatro di Sasso Marconi.

Product overview

Lo Scoiattolo is a social cooperative founded in 1988 that operates as a multi-service organization rather than a traditional tech product company. Its core offerings include: the Bottega Volante e-commerce platform for local product sales with direct producer-to-consumer supply chains; the Cellulosa social hub combining a shop and Osteria Sociale restaurant; the Stoviglioteca in Comune reusable tableware lending service; ARESS insurance agency providing mutual insurance products through ethical networks; the Canile Intercomunale Savena communal animal shelter; and the Fondo Regionale Economia Solidale managing regional interest subsidies for solidarity economy entities. Additional services include occupational workshops, cleaning/maintenance services, and cultural/event programming. The cooperative also runs a participation platform for renewable energy community projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Differenti per Natura: Inclusion and quality label for Cellulosa social inclusion and employment integration program for people with disabilities and fragility
• Osteria Sociale
• Canile Intercomunale Savena

Products and services

• Bottega Volante (La Bottega dello Scoiattolo) An online e-commerce platform selling local products through collective purchasing, connecting local producers directly with consumers via a short supply chain. The service reduces distribution costs while maintaining quality and fair pricing for producers, and is open to households in the Bologna province area.
• Cellulosa A social hub for inclusion and welcome of people with disabilities and fragility, hosting the Bottega dello Scoiattolo and Osteria Sociale. Offers healthy, organic food from local small producers along with events, performances, music, and film.
• Osteria Sociale A social restaurant offering healthy, organic food produced by local small businesses, with associated events, performances, music, and film programming. Open to the public for lunch and dinner service.
• Stoviglioteca in Comune A lending service for reusable tableware (plates, glasses, cutlery) for events and parties, eliminating single-use products and reducing environmental impact. Available to event organizers in the municipalities of Sasso Marconi, Marzabotto, and Monte San Pietro.
• ARESS (Assicurazioni Reti Etico Solidali e Sociali) An insurance agency that operates as a mutual insurance broker, providing insurance products through ethical and solidarity-based networks. Partners with Assimoco insurance company and is a member of CAES. Targets members of Luoghi Comuni and ethical networks seeking RC auto, home, accident, cooperative liability and surety cover.
• Canile Intercomunale Savena A communal animal shelter operated under intercommunal municipal contracts since 2004, serving seven municipalities. Provides adoption services, educational programs, veterinary care, and volunteer coordination. Revenue comes from municipal service contracts and public donations (5x1000, postal and bank transfers).
• Fondo Regionale Economia Solidale (Soggetto Gestore)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 35 years of continuous operation since 1988
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AssimococoreTechnology or IntegrationAssimoco (ASSIcurazioni MOvimento COoperativo) is the technical insurance partner for the ARESS (Assicurazione delle Reti Etico Solidali e Sociali) initiative. As an insurance company belonging to the cooperative movement, Assimoco provides the insurance products that ARESS distributes as an intermediary agency. The partnership enables mutual, collective insurance products for members of the Luoghi Comuni network.
• CAES (Consorzio Assicurativo Etico Solidale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLo Scoiattolo is also a member of CAES, the Ethical and Solidarity Insurance Consortium, which pools cooperative and social enterprise insurance needs and provides collective bargaining power with insurance providers. CAES supports the ARESS model by providing a consortium framework for ethical insurance distribution.
• Coop. Sociale WonderminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndrea Baccarani from Coop. Sociale Wonder participates in the Tavolo di Negoziazione (Negotiation Table) for the Bando Partecipazione E-R 2022 Monzuno energy community project. Wonder is a social cooperative working on social innovation and inclusion in the Bologna area.
• Associazione Castel MerlinominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGiovanni Petriglieri from Associazione Castel Merlino participates in the Tavolo di Negoziazione for the Monzuno renewable energy community project. The association represents local civil society interests in the participatory process.
• Associazione L'Alluce Verde O.D.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrancesca Brusiani from Associazione L'Alluce Verde (a voluntary organization) participates in the Tavolo di Negoziazione for the Monzuno energy community project.
• Associazione C'era una volta il caneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA canine education and training association that collaborates with the Canile Intercomunale Savena on dog rehabilitation and adoption programs. Together they run the 'Dal Canile al Salotto' project to increase dog adoptability and support adopters.
• Local producers network (Botteghe in Viaggio)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Botteghe in Viaggio project connects 38 local producers from the Bolognese Apennines across three categories: agriculture/food (12 producers), crafts/creativity (13 producers), and wellness/nature (13 producers). Producers supply the Bottega Volante e-commerce platform and participate in collective events and fairs organized by the cooperative.
• Agricoltura 3 MontiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgricultural producer from Castel di Casio (BO) participating in the Botteghe in Viaggio network, supplying local food products to the Bottega Volante.
• Azienda Agricola Monte SoleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgricultural producer from Marzabotto (BO) participating in the Botteghe in Viaggio network, supplying local food products to the Bottega Volante.
• Caseificio dell'AppenninominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCheese producer from Vergato (MO) participating in the Botteghe in Viaggio network, supplying artisanal cheeses to the Bottega Volante.
• Salumificio Artigianale Valle del RenominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArtisanal salami producer from Camugnano (BO) participating in the Botteghe in Viaggio network.
• Birrificio dell'AppenninominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCraft brewery from Lizzano in Belvedere (BO) participating in the Botteghe in Viaggio network, supplying local craft beers to the Bottega Volante.
• TEA NaturaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNatural and organic household and personal care products brand (Impresa Solidale) found in the Bottega Volante product catalog. Multiple TEA Natura products are listed including detergents, cosmetics, and household items.
• ConfcooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe cooperative publishes its Social Balance Sheet (Bilancio Sociale) through the Confcooperative portal (bilanciosociale.confcooperative.it), gaining visibility within the Italian cooperative movement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Mani Tese: Italian NGO running solidarity-economy projects including fair-trade distribution of food and craft products from small producer cooperatives. Comparable because both connect small ethical producers to conscious consumers in Italy and use cooperative/association structures to channel impact-oriented commerce, although Mani Tese focuses on Global South producers while Lo Scoiattolo sources locally.

Direct peers

• Alce Nero: Italian cooperative of organic farmers and beekeepers producing and distributing organic food through short supply chains. Comparable to Lo Scoiattolo's Bottega Volante and Botteghe in Viaggio network because both aggregate small organic producers and sell directly to consumers via transparent, ethical sourcing.
• Camst: Italian cooperative specializing in catering, restaurant, and food services for schools, businesses, and communities. Comparable to Lo Scoiattolo's Osteria Sociale and food-service operations because both are cooperative-structured food providers integrating social mission with commercial dining services.
• Banco Alimentare: Italian non-profit foundation that collects and redistributes surplus food to charitable organizations serving people in need. Comparable because both operate community food-distribution channels, rely on volunteer networks, and channel food from producers/suppliers to vulnerable populations — albeit Lo Scoiattolo runs a paid short-supply-chain model rather than charitable redistribution.

Others

• Confcooperative Bologna: Italian cooperative association (of which Lo Scoiattolo is an affiliate member through Bilancio Sociale publication). Comparable as a peer ecosystem participant providing policy representation, training, and visibility for member cooperatives in the same territorial and category space as Lo Scoiattolo.
• Legacoop Bologna: Regional territorial branch of Legacoop, the largest Italian cooperative federation. Comparable as an ecosystem/association peer because Lo Scoiattolo operates inside the cooperative movement infrastructure and competes with other member cooperatives for the same regional visibility, training, and policy advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• COOP Italia (Consorzio Nazionale Dettaglianti): Italy's largest consumer cooperative federation operating grocery retail, e-commerce, and other services nationwide. Comparable as the dominant Italian member-owned food/grocery platform against which Lo Scoiattolo's smaller, more localized food cooperative competes for conscious-consumer spend.
• Consorzio CGM: Italy's largest consortium of social cooperatives, aggregating over 80 member organizations in social services, education, healthcare, and insertion-employment activities. Comparable because member organizations include type-B social cooperatives running food services, occupational workshops, and community integration programs similar to Lo Scoiattolo.

Regional players

• IRES Emilia-Romagna (Rete Regionale Economia Solidale): Regional network coordinating Emilia-Romagna's solidarity-economy entities, including cooperatives, associations, and ethical-finance partners. Directly comparable because Lo Scoiattolo acts as the Soggetto Gestore of the regional Solidarity Economy Fund and participates in the same territorial solidarity-economy governance structures.
• AriS (Associazione Rete Italiana Solidarity Economy / RIES): National reference network of Italian solidarity-economy organizations, including GAS (Solidarity Purchasing Groups), ethical districts, and solidarity-economy entities. Comparable as Lo Scoiattolo operates inside this solidarity-economy ecosystem through Botteghe in Viaggio, the Fondo Solidale, and Bando Partecipazione projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/scoiattolo.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/cooploscoiattolo
• Xx.com/InfoScoiattolo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lo Scoiattolo