Across Tower Hamlets and the UK, communities are reshaping how they tackle food insecurity. People are coming together to form local food cooperatives, creating resilient, self-sufficient alternatives to food banks. Food coops are putting the power back into the hands of the community, allowing people to have access to healthy,  affordable and culturally appropriate food. 

 

How Food Co-ops Work

A food co-op is a community-driven initiative where members contribute to collectively purchasing food, often focusing on affordability, sustainability, and shared decision-making.

They can take many forms – some operating purely on surplus food, obtained from  suppliers like CityHarvest and The Felix Project. Others buy food in bulk, while some do a combination of both. 

How Food Co-ops Differ from Food Banks

Food co-ops offer a sustainable and democratic alternative to food banks – enabling members to have a say over what food is available, while also building a sense of community. Unlike food banks, which rely on donations and a charity model, food co-ops are run by the community with members rotating roles collecting, distributing, and managing finances.The result is a more equitable and accessible food system, where the focus is on collective ownership and shared decision-making.

Food Choices and Community Decision-Making

One of the most empowering aspects of food co-ops is the ability to decide what food is available – a level of choice that food banks can’t always offer. Decisions vary between co-ops: many avoid meat, as affordable or surplus fresh meat is difficult to source and not all members eat it. Some co-ops buy halal meat together, meeting the needs of their community. Some prefer organic food, while others focus on affordability.

Whatever the approach, the key is that members decide together. This frees people from reliance on charity, creating a system where food access is shaped by the community, for the community.

Weekly food boxes

We spoke to members and organisers from two food coops, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets – Cooperation Thread and Needle, and Cooperation Limehouse and an organiser from Cooperation Town to find out how they organise their food coops and how this makes a difference to the local community. 

 

 

Cooperation Town 

Now, let’s look at how Cooperation Town is putting these principles into practice and making a tangible impact in local communities. Cooperation Town is a movement of community food co-ops, with 40 co-ops in their network.

Community Power

Members select food (through voting systems, rotating members selecting food, or paired decision-making, between newer and older members), they collect and distribute supplies, unload pallets and weigh food for fair distribution, manage payments and keep records as well as cleaning and maintaining the space.

Giving Agency to People Over Their Food

Kevin Biderman from Cooperation Town explains why food co-ops are so important:

“Food co-ops allow communities to take control of their food systems. They’re not reliant on donations, and they’re not hierarchical like food banks. Instead, they’re spaces where people can have a say in the food they receive and work together to provide for one another.”

Food banks, pantries, and other models of food support, play a vital role in supporting people to access food in many situations. Food insecurity is rife in the UK at the moment (see the Broken Plate Report 2025), and there is a systemic dependence on food banks and pantries, despite them being precariously funded and staffed. 

Food co-ops, on the other hand, create a sustainable, community-driven approach – one where food choices aren’t dictated by external funders or charity, but by the people themselves.

Different Food Co-op Models: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Food co-ops can take many forms, depending on the needs and resources of their members. The standard Cooperation Town model suggests: 20 members, each contributing £5 per week and a 50/50 split between bought food and surplus food.

But variations exist: Some co-ops only buy food, pooling money to get affordable essentials. Others rely entirely on surplus food, sourcing from local retailers and food redistribution networks. Hybrid models exist, where co-ops primarily access free food but collectively purchase essentials like cleaning products. “The model used depends on the economic constitution of members and their individual needs,” Kevin explains. He recalls food co-ops that get all their food for free but will chip in to buy cleaning products together. Even if food co-ops have all their food coming from surplus, this isn’t a problem. These models are more like cooperative food banks, but they are still creating community power.

Not Just Food

But food is just the beginning. Cooperation Town has a hub in North London that hosts 10 co-ops, using it either as an organising space or as a logistics centre from which they collect their bulk orders and surplus food. Here, they have access to a large supplier and the space to store products that smaller community centres would not have the space for. The hub has become a thriving space, offering: Bike repair projects, free community laundrette, a warm space six days a week, where people can socialise and share childcare, workshops and advice sessions, including benefits support, digital safety, and a menopause café with talks from doctors, acupuncturists, and herbalists. Through cooperation, they have created a space where people can connect, share resources, and collaborate.

 

 

There’s also a need for funding for community organiser roles, which can help co-ops grow and strengthen in the long run—something Camden and Hackney councils have already invested in. These organisers can set up a circular system that supports the co-ops long term, making it a long-term intervention.

 Another big issue is finding more fresh food, especially fruit and vegetables, meat, and fish. Kevin explained that a stable supply is key for these co-ops to thrive. Lastly, better infrastructure like community freezers are needed to store bulk food within the borough, helping co-ops meet demand and stay sustainable.

Cooperation Town’s hub in Gospel Oak

Cooperation Thread and Needle

Cooperation Thread and Needle in Shadwell grew out of a local sewing group. Aleks, who had experience with another co-op, started this one to help her community.

“The hardest part for people is getting others involved. You have to make leaflets, invite people, and explain everything, especially when you don’t know each other. But we were already friends, and there were about 20 of us in the group. Everyone has kids, so we just said, ‘Let’s do a co-op, we’ll get free food,’ and everyone turned up.”

The co-op primarily sources food through surplus schemes like The Felix Project and CityHarvest,  which aim to reduce food waste while feeding local communities. Aleks explains how the process works: “Felix has a registration form where they ask about your preferences, whether you have transport, and what kind of food you want. We don’t want too many chips or fizzy drinks; we prefer healthy food.” This careful selection ensures the food meets the group’s needs.

“Everyone is really pleased with the amount,” says Aleks. “It’s always enough to share with everyone. I share with my neighbour, my sister, my mum.”

The co-op grew out of a shared commitment to support one another.

“I started this project because I gave up my job when I had a little child. I was thinking, ‘What can I do now?’ I’m a religious person, and I asked God to guide me. A few days later, we opened a café for mums, and then a social group where mums could come and chat.”

Organisation and Flexibility

The co-op is organised simply, with everyone involved in the process. “We share the work. When we pick up the food, we divide it up, and it gets shared between everyone in the group. It’s not about making money—it’s about working together and supporting each other.” However, flexibility is key. “Some people won’t be available to help. But we make sure at least half of the group is there for the delivery,” Aleks says. “We can’t force anyone, but we make it work.” She emphasises the importance of teamwork: “We’re working as a team, and it has to be like that.”

Challenges and Hopes for the Future

While the co-op has grown, there are still challenges. Aleks notes that they’re currently missing fresh meat and bread. “We know some bakeries in Whitechapel that have leftover bread, so when we can, we email them to ask if they can supply us once a week. But fresh meat—where can we find that for free? It’s challenging.”

Despite the obstacles, Aleks remains positive about the future. “We’re just happy to be able to share food and support one another. We’re working as a community.”

 

 

 

Cooperation Limehouse

While Cooperation Thread and Needle started from a group of women who already knew each other and mainly relies on surplus food, Cooperation Limehouse has a different story and approach, prioritising organic produce. We caught up with Serge, the coordinator at Cooperation Limehouse, and food co-op members Henrietta and Pitstop.

Cooperation Limehouse  is an example of how a community-driven approach can transform food provision. Originally set up as a social supermarket through the Just-FACT project, the initiative provided affordable food to local residents. However, when funding for the social supermarket ended, its organisers decided to transition to a self-sustaining food co-op.

From Social Supermarket to Member-Led Co-op

For Henrietta, joining the co-op was a chance encounter. She first came across it when picking up tools from the Limehouse Library of Tools, where she spotted a flyer about the co-op. After learning about the WhatsApp group in which members share recipes and cooking tips, she was convinced to join. “Sometimes we get vegetables that members have never seen before, and through the WhatsApp group, we can learn from each other.” Now, Henrietta is a regular. “I live locally but didn’t know anyone before joining. Now, I’m here almost every week.” The food co-op has had an inspiring impact on Henrietta, as she is setting up her own business, and she has now decided to turn it into a co-op structure.

Serge, the coordinator at Cooperation Limehouse, highlights that flexibility is key to making the co-op work for everyone. “Not everyone is comfortable with spreadsheets or online payments, so we need to find ways of organising that work for the people involved.” The members take on different roles, from unloading deliveries to managing payments, setting up the food boxes and tidying up at the end of the day. As Henrietta puts it:

“Not everyone likes the same tasks. Some of us had to weigh the Brussels sprouts before Christmas, and they kept rolling off the scale!”

The co-op thrives on member-led communication with different WhatsApp groups in use for specific tasks—one for recipe sharing, another for swapping vegetables, and one for coordinating produce orders via a shared spreadsheet. Members can choose how involved they want to be, creating a low-pressure, inclusive way to participate.

A Unique Co-op Model with a Focus on Organic Food

Unlike many food co-ops that rely on surplus food from organisations like Felix, Cooperation Limehouse has stayed true to its roots by prioritising organic and fresh produce. For Pitstop, another member who joined just before Christmas, this focus on fresh, unprocessed food was a key reason for getting involved. “I heard about the co-op through the Teviot Centre in Poplar and joined because I find it important to have fresh and organic produce.”

The co-op has had a Felix supply once, and members laugh when looking back at that day: “We had to go back home and get our trolleys,” they say.

Cooperation Limehouse is a shining example of how communities can take control of their food systems, build resilience, and support each other—on their own terms.

 

 

 

Organic vegetables at Cooperation Limehouse

 

The Wider Impact: Economic, Social and Environmental Benefits

Food co-ops are not just about food—they are about building resilient, self-sustaining communities. They empower individuals, reduce food waste, and fight food insecurity all at once. The rapid spread of food co-ops in Tower Hamlets is proof that when communities take the lead, real transformation happens.

This is community power in action—people reclaiming control over food access, breaking cycles of dependency, and shaping the kind of neighbourhoods they want to live in.

Economic & Environmental Benefits

One of the most immediate advantages of food co-ops is their economic impact. With just a £5 weekly contribution, members can feed their family with £50 worth of groceries, providing a crucial lifeline in times of rising food costs.

Beyond affordability, food co-ops contribute to a more sustainable food system. By working with redistribution organisations co-ops prevent surplus food from going to waste—turning excess into access.

Fostering Social Connection & Mutual Aid

Co-ops also combat social isolation by creating spaces where people can connect. Many members of the Cooperation Limehouse, for example, didn’t know each other before joining. Now, bonds have formed—so much so that members pick up food for neighbours who can’t make it to the collection.

This sense of solidarity extends beyond food. Food co-ops integrate seamlessly into other community initiatives, such as social supermarkets, open kitchens, living rooms, and warm hubs. They provide a foundation for mutual aid, where people don’t just receive help—they actively contribute to solutions.

Building Skills & Empowering Individuals

Beyond food security, sustainability and social connection, food co-ops equip members with valuable, transferable skills. From logistics and budgeting to communication and shared decision-making, members are gaining hands-on experience in collective organising—skills that can be applied in other areas of life and activism. The story of Henrietta, a co-op member who, inspired by her experience, is now launching her own cooperative business, and the wide range of activity going on at the Cooperation Town hub are prime examples of cooperation skills being used to create new spaces where people can connect, share resources and collaborate.

 

Vegetables ready to be divided between members

How To Get Involved

If you’re interested in starting your own food co-op, the good news is that it’s easier than you think and only takes about an hour or so a month! Cooperation Town provides resources and guidance for setting up a food co-op, including this starter pack, from gathering the first few members to selecting wholesalers and defining the logistics. We would encourage anyone to start a food co-op to strengthen their community and get access to more affordable food.

Wen’s Support for Co-ops in Tower Hamlets

At Wen, our role has been to amplify these models so more people can learn from and adopt them. 

The rapid spread of food co-ops in Tower Hamlets is proof that when communities take the lead, real transformation happens.

This is community power in action—people reclaiming control over food access, breaking cycles of dependency, and shaping the kind of neighbourhoods they want to live in. Together, we can create a more equitable food system, one co-op at a time.