ANU Food Co-operative

Welcome!

Welcome to the ANU Food Co-operative website. The Co-op is open to the public six days a week and sells organic produce and wholefoods at not-for-profit prices. BYO containers and bags to buy in bulk or by the pocketful.

Become a member and recieve up to a 20% discount on all your purchases! For more information, see the tabs above.

Opening Hours

Our opening hours are as follows:

* Fruit and vegetables are delivered on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons, and we're also open late on these days.

Contact

(Click for larger image.) Kingsley Street, Acton (opposite Toad Hall).
GPO Box 2982, Canberra 2601.
Telephone: (02) 6257 1186
Fax: (02) 6262 9311
anu@foodco-op.com

Stock

Members

About the co-op

The main aim of the Co-op is to provide healthy food to its members. Where possible the Co-op supports suppliers and products that avoid excessive processing and packaging and the use of unnecessary or harmful additives. There are several important differences between the Co-op and other food retailers:

• The Co-op is a non-profit organisation.
• Anyone can buy at the Co-op but people are actively encouraged to become members. The price of food is cheaper for members.
• Members who work at the Co-op get even cheaper food.
• All members have the opportunity to participate in the decision making process.

The Co-op tries to provide an alternative to the 'consumer mentality' and to those large food monopolies whose only concern is profit. We do this in several ways:

• By striving to keep our prices competitive.
• Members are required to bring their own bags and jars with them when they shop.
• Members are encouraged to bring in and sell their own produce. Home made jams, cakes, eggs, etc., are regularly available from the gardens and kitchens of our members.
• Wherever possible we support local growers.

The Co-op has meetings that are open to all members at which decisions about the running of the Co-op are made. Currently we employ one part time paid shop manager to ensure that the various areas of the co-op continue to function smoothly.

In addition some members take on extra duties such as coordinating. Our coordinators take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the Co-op, doing one or two half-day shifts each fortnight. Coordinators may receive discount vouchers in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the co-op.

To get their full discount, members are required to do a mere six hours a year of volunteer work to ensure that we continue to exist and can call ourselves a co-operative in the true sense of the word. Volunteer work largely involves keeping bins well stocked with food, and ensuring that the Co-op is kept clean and tidy. A Worker's Task Book is provided to direct workers to the particular tasks that need doing at any time.

Joining the Co-op ideally means making an active commitment of some of your time and energy. On the simplest level, by working at the co-op you help to keep the price of our goods down. On a broader perspective you may be benefiting your environment and our future by supporting a healthier, more sustainable and less wasteful food industry.

When you are at the Co-op and you notice that something needs doing, it is as much your responsibility to do it as anyone else's. If there are no workers and you have time please be co-operative and help out. Check the correct procedure with the coordinator or shop manager.