CDS has worked with food co-ops for nearly 40 years, and small grocery co-ops hold a special place in that history. These member-owned stores serve as community hubs and sources for fresh, local, and natural foods in small towns across the Upper Midwest.
They also operate with tight margins, small staff capacity, and limited access to the professional development available to larger stores. And yet many have persevered for decades, sustained by committed members and sheer determination.
Back in 2015, CDS worked with several partners to develop the Small & Strong program to bolster that determination with coordinated peer learning, training from grocery experts, and an annual conference.
Since its inception, Small & Strong has brought together a network of passionate food co-op practitioners and advocates — from co-op managers to developers to expert advisors. While CDS staff and other experienced professionals deliver training and technical assistance, the program finds its true strength in the connections forged among cooperators.
The program has been hibernating since the pandemic, but CDS is now re-launching Small & Strong with support from USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant funding. In 2026, we are focusing on building the network through virtual quarterly calls, delivering online trainings, conducting peer audits, and providing co-op managers with technical assistance from expert advisors.
The landscape of small food co-ops has changed since 2019, so we are actively updating our contact list in preparation for a program kick-off webinar in mid-March. If you would like to share management or board leadership transitions at your co-op, or would just like to stay in the loop, please fill out our brief contact survey: Small & Strong Contact Update
Jeanie Wells of Mighty Community Markets & Matt Malecha of Spiral Food Co-op at a 2017 peer audit of the store.