Bologna is set to become the first city in Italy to have a supermarket managed and run entirely by its customers.
The Camilla community emporium will be run by volunteers who will also act as the business' partners, customers, producers, cashiers and warehouse workers, reports Italy's Corriere di Bologna.
The concept has been set up by Alchemilla Gas and Campi Aperti, and will be launched as soon as the target of 300 partners is reached. Another 300 partners will be added over time to guarantee a safety margin.
The initial investment will be €50,000 and the store will be located in the suburbs of Bologna.
Cooperative Concept
The new supermarket will distribute food through a closed-loop cooperative management.
Only members will be able access Camilla, with each of them paying a quota of around €125, which is expected to be lowered over time. There are also plans to apply for public and European funding.
Besides an additional financial contribution of around €160 per month, members are also expected to carry out various tasks that contribute the functioning of the store, such as supplier relations, promotional activities, store management, and stocking of goods.
Despite being a novelty in Italy, there are many examples of this type of cooperative supermarket in Europe and the US.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
