DUCK SOUP COOP
A DIFFERENT KIND OF MARKET
Incorporated in 1974 as a not-for-profit entity, Duck Soup was
originally a member only, pre-order buying club.
As the Coop grew, we were able to
operate as a storefront outlet where
purchases could be made from stock inventory.
In 1990, the membership voted to open the store to the public as well as
members.
What does the Coop offer?
Duck Soup sells a wide variety of products including but not limited to:
Bulk Seeds, grains, flours, legumes, pastas, teas, coffees, nuts and snacks (many organic)
Organic fresh fruit and vegetables
Natural and organic grocery items
Frozen food from entrees to desserts
Organic milk
Organic and natural dairy products and cheeses
Alternatives for food allergies and other special diets
Alternatives for vegetarian and vegan diets
Fairly traded coffee, tea, chocolate and other products
Herbs and spices
Vitamins and supplements
Natural and organic cruelty free body care products
Natural pet food
Ecologically safe cleaning products
Recycled paper products
Housewares, gifts and greeting cards
In
addition to the many items on the shelves, shoppers may special order items from
a variety of suppliers.
What Makes Duck Soup Different?
In
addition to making natural foods available to the DeKalb Community, Duck Soup is
a democratically managed business, where all members have the opportunity to
take an active role in selecting product lines, setting pricing structures, and
contributing to operational decisions.
Duck Soup was designed
to operate in the interest
of consumers. There is no stock or private financial interest in the business.
All of our current inventory, equipment and assets
have been provided by
member work contributions, equity and fee contributions, and surplus income
generated from sales.
Our History
Duck
Soup was initially organized in the Fall of 1974 by the collective staff of
Juicy John Pink’s, a whole foods restaurant in DeKalb.
Prior to this time
attempts to organize a member operated whole foods
outlet in town had failed, but with the restaurant as a focus point, the space
available, and the combined
energy of the restaurant staff and individuals who
had been involved in previous attempts, Duck Soup became a viable cooperative
organization. Since that
time Duck
Soup has undergone a number of organizational changes:
from a “members only” pre-order buying organization to a fully stocked
retail outlet open
to the public seven days per week; from an organization which
required a work commitment from every member household to an organization that
offers a
tiered membership structure; from an organization that made decisions
based on discussion and consensus to an
organization that makes decisions based
on majority vote.
What hasn’t changed over time is the Coop’s mission and its general
adherence to the Cooperative Principles.
These principles, originally conceived in 1844 by the Rochdale Weaver’s
Guild in England (recognized as the first cooperative), were most recently
revised by the International Cooperative Alliance in 1995.
The Cooperative Principles:
—Open, Voluntary Membership:
Membership is available to all persons who can make use of the
organization’s services and are willing to accept the responsibility of
membership
—One Membership, One Vote:
The
organization is democratic with affairs being administered by persons elected or
appointed by the membership.
—Limited Return on Investment:
Return on the membership’s investment should be used primarily for the
development of the business, share capital
should only receive a limited rate of
return
—Not For Profit Operation:
Economic results arising out of the operations of the organization belong to the
members of the organization and should be distributed/utilized in such a manner
as to prevent one member gaining at the expense of others.
—Continuing Education:
The organization should be committed to and make provision for the
education of its members, employees and the general public
in the principles of
cooperation.
—Cooperation Among Cooperatives:
The organization should actively cooperate with other cooperatives at local,
national and international levels.
—Concern for the Community: While focusing on member needs the organization should work for the sustainable development of the community through policies accepted by the membership.
