Our management team and Board officers embarked on a journey to Portland, Maine this past weekend for the Nationwide Conference of Cooperatives, CCMA. The Consumer Cooperative Management Association is the national annual conference for food cooperative directors, management, staff, and allies.

Organized by the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, the CCMA conference was the perfect platform for our management team to present “Who Are We Anyway,” a discussion focused on how the Belfast Community Co-op can uphold its vision while strategically reaching out to ensure that everyone feels welcome in our store. This discussion highlighted the importance of co-ops expanding beyond a sole focus on food and excelling in other areas such as worker treatment, community concern, and the cooperative business model’s ability to contribute to economic prosperity in our communities.

Our General Manager, Doug Johnson, received the prestigious award for Cooperative Service. This award is given to individuals who have demonstrated years of dedication and leadership in their respective cooperative sectors. Congratulations to Doug and the entire Belfast Community Co-op!