Growth of co-operatives Potentials and limitations Roberto Sesso- Legacoop FVG Udine,

The new co- operatives in the years of crisis The new co- operatives in the years of crisis Some economic figures of the new co-operatives born beetween years

Tab. 1 New co-operatives ( ) per sector (n.) SectorN. Agro- food and fishing1.378 Industry and manifacturing932 Building1.747 Distribution659 Social co-operatives4.189 Transport and logistics2.132 Other kind of services5.038 Housing1.480 Other1.267 Total18.822

Tab. 2 Turnover and number of employees in the new co-operatives Sector Co-operatives Turnover 2010N. employees 2010 Agri- food and fishing Industry and manufacture Building Distribution Social co- operatives Transport and logistics Other services Housing Other Total

Co-operatives’ potentials 1 Capacity to better stand up in times of economic collapse compared to other business oriented entreprises

Co-operatives’ potentials 2 More development opportunities and ability to preserve employment levels

Co-operatives’ potentials 3 Italian co-operative system operates in a network strategy in order to: Evaluate opportunities Develop synergies  strong link with local environment!

Co- operatives and local environment A best practice: agri- food co- operative «chains»

Enhancement and development of the potentials of the agri- food sector in Italy Some figures: 5800 co- operatives members 499 billion Euros turnover employees

Methodological approach Constitution of agri- food co- operative «chains» (filiere). Agri- food «chains» involve activities connected to: agricultural and zootechnical production working and processing skills distributing performance In particular the consumer co-operatives (Coop + Conad) count for the 35% in the total hyper and super- market share in Italy Consumers’ health and safety is an essential requirement of our distributing system

Co- operatives are estabilished in many of the leading sectors in the agri-food national industry Some examples of «agri-food co- operative chains»: Fruits and vegetables Meat and «freezing chain» Fish and «freezing chain» Milk and cheese products Wine Oil Services to agri- food co- operatives

Business steps for the constitution of «agri- food co- operative chains» Agricultural and zootechnical producers Conveyance of goods to common pool structures (repository co- operatives) Processing food Logistics and transport Distribution Promotion of the products through all the subject involved in the project

Other subjects supporting «co- operative chains» Public institutions ( in the framework of laws regulating financial assistance and market flows) Professional organizations (agricultural/ entrepreneurial) Technical and economic operators Financial partners (banks, other companies supplying financial services) Research and innovation structures (universities, technology centers)

About «coop chains» «Coop chain» is not just a trading activity but a real partnership among different subjects sharing objectives and strategies for production and distribution

Development strategy of the «coop- chain » Evaluation of the target market Elaboration of a joint project with the stakeholders involved and their supporting partners Projects’ start up and creation of enterprises network