The Food Hub, Germany's first cooperative supermarket, opened 100 days ago in Giesing.
The concept is well received - similar markets will follow in other cities.
The chief doctor clears the shelves, the mother of two sits at the cash register - for this they can shop at reduced prices and sustainably.
In July, the Food Hub opened in Giesing, Germany's first hands-on supermarket.
The cash drop after 100 days: the concept works.
1100 members are already there, other cities want to follow the example!
"The response is great, the people are enthusiastic," says Kristin Mansmann, one of the three full-time board members.
The principle of the supermarket in solidarity on Deisenhofener Straße: Only those who are members are allowed to shop here.
The cooperative is available for a one-time fee of 180 euros and ten euros per year. In addition, the members have to work at least three hours per month in administration, on the shelves or at the till.
400 new members since opening
The cooperative started with 710 members, and has added 400 since it opened on July 8th. A colorful bunch: from students to project managers, everything is included. Many love the practical work - especially those who otherwise sit at the computer all day. With a few exceptions, most of the comrades are laypeople in sales. "The first few weeks were pretty stressful because we all had to learn," reveals Mansmann. "Working at the cash register in particular is a huge thing for someone who has never done it before."
Most of all, the issue of sustainability is important: In the full-range market, which has as little packaging as possible, there are regional foods, mostly organic, directly from participating farms and producers.
The sales prices for most products are only around 30 percent higher than the purchase price - so the members also save.
"We have already been able to significantly increase the range, for example we now have sweet potatoes from Bavaria and grapes from Rosenheim with us," says the economist.
Berlin now also has a cooperative supermarket
The aim of the project: "In two years we have to have 2500 members so that we can be in the profit zone," explains Mansmann.
So far everything is going perfectly according to plan.
And other cities are already following suit: a hands-on supermarket with a similar concept opened in Berlin in September, with more markets to follow.
"Some of the initiators from other cities were already with us and took a close look at our concept," says the Munich resident.
On Tuesday evening even the topics of the day dedicated a contribution to the cooperative market from Munich.
In the state capital, too, Mansmann does not want to rule out the opening of a second branch: "But it will be a few years before that happens."
