Coop Food Stores
Coop Food Stores (Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society) is a member-owned grocery cooperative operating three full-line retail stores in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont, serving both general consumers and food-access populations through retail grocery, private-label products, auto service, and cooking classes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1936
- HeadquartersHanover, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Coop Food Stores does
Coop Food Stores, legally Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society, is a member-owned grocery cooperative operating three full-line retail stores in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont (Hanover, Lebanon, White River Junction), supplemented by two Auto Service Centers and a culinary Co-op Learning Center in Lebanon. Founded in 1936 as a small buying club and now in its 90th year, the company operates on a cooperative ownership model in which any shopper may purchase goods but only member-owners holding at least 10 shares (a $50 one-time investment) are eligible for Co-op Rewards (1-3% back), patronage refunds, and the right to elect the 12-member Board of Directors. Anyone can shop, member or not, and the Co-op serves both the general Upper Valley consumer base and targeted food-access populations through programs including Food for All (10% off for WIC/SNAP/EBT recipients), Double Up Food Bucks (50% off produce for EBT users), and the Pennies for Change round-up donation program (nearly $1.5M raised since 2016).
The core product is grocery retail spanning produce, dairy, frozen, general merchandise, and health and body products, with selective private-label offerings such as Co-op Brand Local Milk sourced from McNamara Dairy at a permanent $2.99/gallon everyday price positioned as a food-security SKU rather than a temporary promotion. Ancillary revenue streams include the Co-op Service Centers (auto repair and maintenance, with 20% employee discounts) and the Co-op Learning Center (paid cooking classes via Eventbrite, with member/child pricing tiers and required 10-share vesting for discounts). Distribution relies on multiple wholesalers — UNFI (primary natural/organic), Associated Grocers of New England (regional grocery), Black River Produce, Upper Valley Produce, and several specialty distributors — rather than a single national supplier.
The technology stack is conventional grocery retail: Point-of-Sale systems, EBT/SNAP processing, and a loyalty rewards tracking engine, with no disclosed mobile app, API, or proprietary software platform. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer across three physical stores plus community-led (membership-based governance with elected board and Owner Linkage Committee), and event-driven (cooking classes, community partnerships with nonprofits such as Upper Valley Haven, Willing Hands, LISTEN, and Friends of Mascoma). Communication channels are typical of mid-size community retailers — email newsletter (Co-op Hey), text messaging, social media, in-store signage, Eventbrite class registration, and radio/print — with no evidence of digital advertising at scale or e-commerce. The company has no parent firm, no subsidiaries with separate financials (Co-op Service Centers, Learning Center, and Resource Center are operating units), no funding events, and no M&A activity in evidence.
Coop Food Stores firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Coop Food Stores
- Legal name
- Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society
- Website
- https://coopfoodstore.coop
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1936
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Coop Food Stores (Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society) is a member-owned grocery cooperative operating three full-line retail stores in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont, serving both general consumers and food-access populations through retail grocery, private-label products, auto service, and cooking classes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Coop Food Stores industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cooperative Grocery Retail
- NAICS
- Food and Beverage Retailers (445)
- SIC
- Retail-Grocery Stores (5411), Retail-Food Stores (5400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Member-Owned Food Cooperatives (CRAHALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Natural/Organic Food Co-ops & Community Natural Grocers (CRAHAEAJ)
Keywords
Where Coop Food Stores is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hanover
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Coop Food Stores business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Retail Grocery Sales: Primary revenue from retail sales of groceries, produce, dairy, frozen foods, health and body products, and beverages across three store locations. Revenue driven by high-volume consumer transactions.
- Membership Shares and Dues: One-time membership investment of $50 (10 shares at $5 each). Members receive Co-op Rewards earning 1-3% on purchases, special pricing on Big Deals, bulk discounts, and potential patronage refunds in profitable years.
- Auto Service Center: Automotive service and repair through Co-op Service Centers. Employees receive 20% discount on car repairs. Revenue from vehicle maintenance and repair services.
- Learning Center Classes: Cooking classes and culinary education programs. Revenue from class registration fees, with member discounts available for fully vested members with at least 10 shares.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Full Membership - 10 shares ($50) |
| Subscription | Annual | Subscriber - fewer than 10 shares |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cooking Classes - Member vs Non-Member |
| Subscription | Monthly | Food for All Program |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Coop Food Stores product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Coop Food Stores is a member-owned consumer cooperative that operates three full-service grocery retail locations in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont (Hanover, Lebanon, and White River Junction). The stores sell groceries, produce, dairy, frozen foods, health and body products, and beverages with an emphasis on local, organic, and sustainably sourced items. Complementary revenue-generating operations include Co-op Service Centers offering automotive repair and the Co-op Learning Center providing cooking classes and culinary education.
Product overview
Co-op Food Stores is a member-owned grocery cooperative offering physical food retail products and community programs. The core offering is grocery retail with private-label products (such as Co-op Brand Milk from McNamara Dairy). The cooperative complements its retail operations with service programs including Co-op Learning Center cooking classes, a Co-op Rewards loyalty program, Pennies for Change community giving, and membership ownership benefits. The company operates as a traditional grocery retailer without a technology platform or SaaS product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Co-op Learning Center: Culinary learning center offering cooking classes
- Pennies for Change
- Co-op Rewards
- Food for All
- Double Up Food Bucks
- Co-op Kids Club
Products and services
- Co-op Brand Local Milk Co-op's private-label whole milk produced by McNamara Dairy, sold at an everyday low price of $2.99 per gallon as part of a permanent milk price cut initiative targeting food security for Upper Valley shoppers.
- Co-op Learning Center Cooking Classes Hands-on and demonstration cooking classes held at the Co-op Learning Center in Lebanon, NH. Classes cover seasonal eating, local food preparation, and culinary skills for adults and children ages 13+; taught by instructor Lindsay Smith with registration through Eventbrite or in-store.
- Co-op Service Centers (Auto Repair) Automotive service and repair through Co-op Service Centers located in the Hanover and Lebanon areas. Employees receive a 20% discount on car repairs, and the Co-op partners with LISTEN Community Services through the Car Connects program to help financially vulnerable families cover essential car repairs.
- Co-op Membership Member-owner program requiring a one-time purchase of 10 shares ($50) that grants voting rights, Co-op Rewards earning 1-3% on purchases, Big Deal pricing, bulk discounts, cooking class discounts, patronage refunds in profitable years, recall notifications, and eligibility to run for the Board of Directors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Pennies for Change raised nearly $1.5 million for local food banks and community partners since 2016
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Coop Food Stores
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Coop Food Stores technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Coop Food Stores partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LISTEN Community ServicescoreLong-term food access partner receiving 80% of Pennies for Change donations. Partnership extends to Car Connects program helping financially vulnerable families cover essential car repairs to maintain transportation.
- Upper Valley HavencoreFood access partner receiving Pennies for Change donations. Recipient of $500 donation from King Award recipient. Provides emergency shelter, food shelf, and supportive services to Upper Valley community members in need.
- Willing HandscoreFood access partner operating food rescue and distribution. Travels 1,000 miles weekly providing recovered food to those in need. Receives 80% of Pennies for Change donations.
- Friends of MascomacoreFood access partner operating Friends Feeding Friends food pantries. Receives ongoing support through Pennies for Change program donations.
- UNFI (United Natural Food)corePrimary wholesale distributor for Co-op products. UNFI is a major natural and organic foods distributor serving the Northeast region.
- Associated Grocers of New EnglandcoreRegional wholesale grocery distributor serving independent cooperatives and stores in New England.
- Black River ProducecoreRegional produce distributor serving VT and NH. Contact: 800-228-5481
- Food ConnectsminorLocal producer-focused distributor for regional food system development in VT and NH. Contact: 802-451-0538
- Upper Valley ProducecoreRegional produce distributor serving Upper Valley area. Contact: 802-295-7400
- Chex Finer FoodsminorSpecialty foods distributor. Contact: 800-227-8114
- Vermont RootsminorLocal producer-focused distributor for VT area. Contact: 888-887-6687
- Provisions InternationalminorSpecialty and gourmet foods distributor. Contact: 802-291-6100
- Rainbow PlayschoolminorJanuary 2026 Pennies for Change Community Partner focused on early childhood development.
- Upper Valley Habitat for HumanityminorFebruary 2026 Pennies for Change Community Partner providing affordable homeownership opportunities.
- Prevent Child Abuse VermontminorMarch 2026 Pennies for Change Community Partner focused on child welfare and prevention.
- Vermont Adult LearningminorMay 2026 Pennies for Change Community Partner providing adult education and literacy services.
- Norwich Community CollaborativeminorJune 2026 Pennies for Change Community Partner serving Norwich community.
- Twin Pines Cooperative FoundationminorEndowment managed by HCCF that returns interest to the Co-op for distribution to local nonprofits in the form of Community Project Grants.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Coop Food Stores competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Brattleboro Food Co-op: Member-owned grocery co-op serving southern Vermont and nearby NH, directly comparable on member-owned model, local sourcing, education programs, and small-store footprint serving a similar demographic base.
- PCC Community Markets: Large-scale member-owned grocery cooperative operating ~15 stores in the Pacific Northwest, closely comparable to Co-op Food Stores on member-owned governance, local/organic focus, and community impact programs at higher scale.
- Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative: Member-owned grocery cooperative in the Milwaukee area, comparable in member-driven grocery model, community grants, cooking education, and similar member reward structures.
- Hunger Mountain Food Coop: Vermont member-owned grocery cooperative in Waterbury/Center, comparable to Co-op Food Stores as a New England natural foods co-op with member governance, local sourcing, cooking classes, and food access programs of similar scale and ethos.
- City Market (Onion River Co-op): Burlington, VT member-owned cooperative with multiple locations, comparable in cooperative structure, New England natural foods focus, member rewards, and community giving programs similar to Co-op Food Stores' Pennies for Change.
- Monadnock Food Co-op: Member-owned grocery cooperative based in Keene, NH — a directly comparable New Hampshire co-op with a similar member-owned structure, single/dual-store format, and community mission alignment.
Broad incumbents
- Price Chopper / Market 32: Regional supermarket chain serving Upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, competing with Co-op Food Stores for mainstream grocery customers in the same Upper Valley trade area.
- Natural Grocers: Public natural and organic grocery chain operating ~170 stores nationwide; a broader incumbent competing in the same natural/organic specialty grocery category as Co-op Food Stores but without the cooperative ownership model.
- Hannaford Supermarkets: Major Ahold Delhaize-owned grocery chain with strong Upper Valley store presence; the principal regional incumbent competing directly for grocery basket share with Co-op Food Stores.
- National Co+op Grocers (NCG): Cooperative of food co-ops providing wholesale, marketing, and operational services; comparable as the broader umbrella entity Co-op Food Stores could leverage or align with for procurement and best practice sharing.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Coop Food Stores social profiles
Digital presenceCoop Food Stores financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Coop Food Stores leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Coop Food Stores subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Coop Food Stores funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Coop Food Stores M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Coop Food Stores
What does Coop Food Stores do?
Coop Food Stores is a member-owned consumer cooperative that operates three full-service grocery retail locations in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont (Hanover, Lebanon, and White River Junction). The stores sell groceries, produce, dairy, frozen foods, health and body products, and beverages with an emphasis on local, organic, and sustainably sourced items. Complementary revenue-generating operations include Co-op Service Centers offering automotive repair and the Co-op Learning Center providing cooking classes and culinary education.
Is Coop Food Stores a public or private company?
Coop Food Stores is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Coop Food Stores founded?
Coop Food Stores was founded in 1936. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Coop Food Stores based?
Coop Food Stores is headquartered in Hanover, United States, in the North America region.
How does Coop Food Stores make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Grocery Sales are the primary driver. The others are membership Shares and Dues, auto Service Center and learning Center Classes.
Who are Coop Food Stores's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Brattleboro Food Co-op, PCC Community Markets, Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative, Hunger Mountain Food Coop, City Market (Onion River Co-op) and Monadnock Food Co-op. Broad incumbents are Price Chopper / Market 32, Natural Grocers, Hannaford Supermarkets and National Co+op Grocers (NCG).
Does Coop Food Stores have an API?
No public API is recorded for Coop Food Stores.
What industry is Coop Food Stores in?
Coop Food Stores's product category is Cooperative Grocery Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHALAA, Member-Owned Food Cooperatives, with a secondary code of CRAHAEAJ, Natural/Organic Food Co-ops & Community Natural Grocers. Its NAICS code is 445 and its SIC code is 5411.