Intro to Food Co-op Development & Community Feasibility

Learn the 4 types of feasibility through FCI's Food Co-op Development Framework.

In cooperation with

What's included?

  • 2 Modules

  • Introduction to the Food Co-op Feasibility Framework

  • Introduction to Community Feasibility

  • Interactive walk-through of the FCI Community Interview tool

Foundational topics to build knowledge to determine if a food co-op is possible

  • FCI’s Food Co-op Development Framework
  • Introduction to 4 types of Feasibility: Community, Market, Financial, and Site Feasibility

Practical, hands-on activities that get you 1 step closer to launching your co-op

  • Community Interview Template

Meet your Instructor

Chris Dilley

Chris Dilley has been working in and with cooperative grocery retail over 25 years. Starting as a board member at People’s Food Co-op of Kalamazoo in 1998 and then serving as the co-op’s general manager from 2003 to 2023, he led the co-op to move locations and quadruple the store size and sales, take on operation of the Kalamazoo Farmers Market. After PFC, Chris was a manager on contract for two years, serving as the interim general manager that opened the Detroit People’s Food Co-op in 2024.

Chris is currently the Director of Startup Support at Food Co-op Initiative. Chris is passionate about the cooperative model, great grocery experiences, local food systems development, and equitable access for all. He lives in Kalamazoo, MI, with his wife and son, and their pup, Cayanne.