Expansion and Growth

green grocery bag

CDS Consulting Co-op provides a full range of services to assist your cooperative in growing your business and in the planning and implementation of expansion/relocation projects. Our consultants will work with you to assess your store’s capacity, to develop a realistic plan and to help your co-op achieve its goals.

Our experienced consultants can provide support throughout an expansion project by assisting with any or all of the following:

  • Assessing feasibility
  • Planning the plan
  • Managing the project plan
  • Aligning the organization and rallying the support
  • Finding the right site
  • Providing support, tools and skills to carry out the plan

(Scroll down to see associated Solutions newsletter articles and other resources.)

Products and Services

Orientation to Planning an Expansion/Relocation Project

  • Create a project plan and process
  • Initial assessment of organizational capacity
  • Provide project management training

Assessment

  • Feasibility and Capacity Assessments
  • Organizational/Operational Assessments

Financial Projections

  • Financial Packaging and Loan Procurement
  • Internal Fundraising – Member Loans, Member Equity

Market/Site/Location Analysis

  • Real Estate Consulting
  • Lease Negotiations

Store planning and design

Market Research

  • Consumer Research Studies
  • Customer/Member Surveys – Design, Tabulations, and Analysis
  • Focus Group Planning and Facilitation

Project Management

  • Planning – Strategic Planning, Business Planning, Market Planning

Board and Management Training

Other Resources 

Member Loan Toolbox by Bill Gessner, Beret Griffith and Ron Griffith, published by Food Co-op 500

Meet in the Middle – A model of support for new food co-op development Denise Chevalier. Cooperative Grocer. #128. January-February 2007.

*Relocation and Expansion Toolbox.” Bill Gessner. Click here to order this publication.

Co-op Expansions Raise the Bar. Bill Gessner and Patricia Cumbie. Cooperative Grocer. #121. November-December 2005.

Avoiding Post Expansion Burnout. Bill Gessner. Cooperative Grocer. #120. September-October 2005.

Construction Delays: Curses and Blessings. Denise Chevalier. Cooperative Grocer. #96. September-October 2001.

Location, Location, Location…and Site, Site, Site: Co-ops are Retailers Too. Peter Davis. Cooperative Grocer. #92. January-February 2001.

Conducting Member Loan Campaigns. Bill Gessner. Cooperative Grocer. #86. January-February 2000.

Clarifying Board and Management Roles in Expansion/Relocation Projects. Bill Gessner. Cooperative Grocer. #83. July-August 1999.

Project Management for Cooperatives. Bill Gessner. Cooperative Grocer. #46. May-June 1993.

Preparing for Expansion. Bill Gessner. Cooperative Grocer. #33. March-April 1991.

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