How to set up a food buying group

How to set up a Food Buying Group/Food Coop

Food Buying Groups can range from groups of friends, neighbours, and relatives, to larger scale community-based projects, all of whom benefit from buying  products in wholesale quantities at wholesale prices. 
Buying in bulk can help to reduce your carbon footprint by minimising the amount of packaging waste, and by reducing the number of vehicles involved in a monthly shopping trip. It can benefit producers by reducing delivery costs and giving them the security of a pre-paid order. It’s also a fun way to get to know other people who share your values, socialise, and spread the word about those issues and ethics you believe in.
This webinar will involve hearing from 3 people involved in Food buying groups; Peter Sumadh from Belfast Food Coop, Catherine McKenna from No. 42 Coop in Belfast, and Kathryn McCabe from the Roscommon Produce Network (part of Roscommon Transition Towns project).

We will hear about getting started, the money saving aspect of bulk buying, building community, handling fresh produce and using an online platform to gather orders. There will be time for questions and discussion. Addittionally, if any individuals or groups are interested in setting up a food buying group there will be some support and advice available for a limited period (6 weeks) after the webinar, which you can avail of for free. 

This session is offered as part of the Food for the Planet project, comissioned by Ards & North Down Council, as part of their Covid Recovery Programme. Individuals and groups are very welcome, especially those in Ards & North Down. 

Where: Online, on Zoom. 
When: Tuesday 22nd March at 7:30pm