Co-Ops: How Transitioning to Employee Ownership Creates a More Equitable Food System, Solidifies Community Ties, and Builds a Legacy for Your Food Business

The Good Food CFO podcast

Transitioning to a cooperative structure isn’t just a trend; it’s a transformative journey.

In this episode, Sarah welcomes a panel of leaders to explore the real-life experiences and benefits of transitioning to employee ownership and cooperative business structures.

Stacey Smith from Project Equity explains the different models like ESOPs, EOTs, and worker cooperatives, emphasizing their role in economic stability and community retention. Devra Gartenstein, founder of Patty Pan Cooperative, shares her journey of converting her food business into a worker cooperative to improve employee quality of life. And Monica Rocchino discusses her experience transitioning The Local Butcher Shop to a cooperative, highlighting the importance of financial literacy and structured management.

You’ll hear:

• About the challenges and successes in converting traditional business structures to cooperatives.

• The role that financial literacy and education plays in employee ownership

• The variety of Governance and management structures in employee-owned businesses

• The importance of financial viability for transitioning to employee ownership

• How employee ownership promotes equity and fair compensation in the workforce

• The ongoing support and resources available for businesses considering employee ownership transitions

• And more!

Connect with our Panel:

Stacey Smith - Project Equity

Monica Rocchino - The Local Butcher Shop

Devra Gartenstein - Patty Pan Co-Op

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