Co-op Principle #4 - Autonomy and Independence

Principle #4: Autonomy & Independence

“We are self-governed by our owners, following the governance policies enacted by the elected Board of Trustees.”

One of the things that makes Sno-Isle Food Co-op special is that it is built upon this idea that we are self-governed, not controlled by big corporations or shareholders. The cooperative model means that we are accountable to our Owners as well as the community we are serving.  

While many businesses measure success based on profit alone, we hold ourselves to the Triple Bottom Line, which means that people and planet are just as important to us as profit. The goal is to keep the social and economic benefits of shopping at the Co-op right here in our community. This allows everyone to feel like they are part of a business that is driven by our values and strengthening our community.  

Cooperatives like ours are independent, self-directed organizations controlled by invested Owners that are members of the community. If the Co-op wants to partner or collaborate with another organization, it is done with the approval of the Board of Trustees, who have been democratically elected by our Owners to represent the Co-op’s interests and help make decisions that guide the future of the Co-op. We take pride in being autonomous and independent through cooperation!