Retail and Consumer Co-ops Address Consumer Needs

Quebec City (ots/PRNewswire) -

Retail and consumer co-ops are leaders in their industries around
the world and household names. The 2012 International Summit of
Cooperatives is proud to announce six new speakers from this key
economic sector.

Every day, millions of consumers shop for food, hardware and
pharmaceutical products in these co-ops. The cooperative business
model has demonstrated its ability to meet consumer needs and many of
these businesses were among the first to use their co-op identity and
difference to better serve their members.

In many countries, these brand names have been around for decades
and are extremely competitive in terms of product pricing, quality
and availability.

The six speakers announced today are:

Peter Marks - Co-operative Group (UK) - Multisector
        Rodrigo Gouveia - European Community of Consumer Cooperatives
(Belgium) - Organization
         representing local and regional co-operatives
        Scott Banda - Federated Co-operatives (Canada) - Multisector
        Andrew MacGillivray - Gay Lea Foods (Canada) - Food
        David Labistour - Mountain Equipment Co-op (Canada) - Outdoor
gear and clothing
        Robynn Shrader - National Cooperative Grocers Association 
(USA) - Food

According to recent data published by the International
Co-operative Alliance (ICA), retail and consumer cooperatives
generate an aggregate of $350 billion dollars in revenue annually.
More than 20% of the 300 largest cooperatives in the world operate in
the retail and consumer sector.

2012 International Summit of Cooperatives: 
http://www.sommetinter2012.coop
        Follow the Summit on Twitter: Sommetcoop2012 
[https://twitter.com/#!/SommetCoop2012 ]
        2012 International Year of Cooperatives (UN): 
http://www.un.org/fr/events/coopsyear
        Official pre-Summit conference: Imagine 2012 
[http://www.imagine2012.coop ]

For further information:

Nathalie Genest: +1-514-281-7275 / +1-866-866-7000, ext.7275
(Canada)

[email protected]

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