January 2026: Announcing JQ Hannah as permanent Executive Director

Dear cooperators and friends,

We are delighted to share that JQ Hannah has been named Food Co-op Initiative’s permanent Executive Director.

As a Board, we are energized by JQ’s leadership, clear vision, and deep commitment to our mission and values. At a pivotal time for cooperative development, JQ has demonstrated steady, thoughtful leadership grounded in listening, collaboration, and strategic clarity. Zir guidance has already helped dozens of start-up food co-ops open and advance their growth strategies — moving us closer to a more just, community-owned food system. JQ’s leadership gives us confidence and momentum as FCI steps into its next chapter, ready to meet this moment and deepen our impact.

The next part of FCI’s chapter includes something unprecedented: we are running an open call for board member nominations. For the Board, it’s a recognition that as we grow into our vision as an organization, we need to grow the board and our skills, experiences and voices accordingly. This is a big and exciting step towards an important strategic goal for FCI: Recruit and build a Board and Staff that is representative of the startup food movement.

We invite all cooperative leaders who are passionate about the startup food co-op movement and are ready to significantly contribute time and expertise to its future to learn more about the Board’s requirements and responsibilities and to apply for one of three open Board seats by Friday, February 13.

In cooperation,

Darnell Adams
Board Chair

FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: JQ HANNAH

Co-ops are about people, communities and economic democracy. They are powerful associations of people and businesses owned by our communities. Yet, while they are without a doubt both, the economic engine for change that is a cooperative business has no fuel without a movement of people behind it. It is the people that power the startup food co-op movement, and it is their movement — your movement — that FCI is here to serve and to grow.

I have been a part of the FCI staff for over a decade. Since 2015, I’ve gotten to witness and assist dozens of the startup food co-ops that have opened their stores. I am incredibly honored to step into the Executive Director role just as the 190th startup food co-op since FCI began is about to open its doors — SunCoast Co-op Market, in Imperial Beach, CA.

My decade in the startup food co-op movement has really driven home to me that it is the people who are the movement and the movement fuels our businesses, not the other way around. I have seen FCI be its most effective when listening to, learning from, and working with the people who are the startup food co-op movement, rather than telling it what it needs. It is in that spirit I intend to lead as FCI’s new Executive Director.

In true cooperative fashion, I am going to “P6” something¹ I learned from the work of two brilliant cooperators — Gabby Davis, Community Engagement Manager of National Co+op Grocers, and Julie Bosland, Executive Director of the Cooperative Development Fund — as I step into this new role. Recently, both Gabby and Julie started their journeys with their respective organizations by “handing the mic” to the movement through listening tours. Afterwards, they not only reported back to the movement on what they learned, but also how they would be accountable to what they learned, shaping what they would do moving forward.

So, I need your help. I need to hear the thoughts of dozens of you — startup food cooperators, TA providers, funders, established food co-op leaders, and stakeholders — over the next four months. I will then report back about what I learned and how it will shape FCI going forward. I’ll be reaching out to many of you, but don’t feel you have to wait for me to contact you. Please reach out to me at jq@fci.coop if you have something to say and we’ll schedule a time together.

I believe the true fuel of cooperation is centering the people that are the movement, and I also believe in bold moves. 2026 could easily feel like too difficult a time for bold moves, but that’s exactly what makes it the right time for being boldly cooperative. The flexibility of a movement by and for the people, plus the fuel of cooperation makes incredible things happen. I believe in you, in us, in our movement. Let’s make some incredible, cooperative things happen.

¹Cooperative principle six: “Cooperation Among Cooperatives”, which typically means replicating something another co-op or cooperator pioneered.

In cooperation,

JQ Hannah
Executive Director

STARTUP SUPPORT WITH CHRIS DILLEY

We wrapped up 2025 by putting the finishing touches on a couple of new tools for use by the startup food co-op movement:

Food Co-op Development Framework Checklist: We expanded on the Framework Action Guide to articulate a step-by-step method of starting a food co-op, organized by Area of Work and Stage. You can use the Checklist as a self-assessment for co-ops that have been organizing for a while, or as a great starting point for a new effort. Look for this handy new tool to be released in February!

We have also embarked upon a journey to strengthen the Stage 1 foundation with a curriculum approach to our Peer Learning Groups. The nine sessions of the peer group are designed to help the startup co-op end the year with:

an articulated vision
a community base
functional governance
a clearly articulated business concept
incorporation
and a membership launch

Thank you Cooperative Development Fund (CDF) for your support in the development of these tools.

Anticipated store openings in the first half of 2026:

SunCoast Market Co-op, Imperial Beach, CA – The countdown clock is ticking! After 10 years of organizing, this co-op will open its doors this Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Wasatch Cooperative Market in Salt Lake City, UT has equipment set in place, shelving ordered, and just held their hiring fair! We don’t have an announced opening date yet, but we expect it in the next few months.

Go Co-op!

Chris Dilley
Director of Startup Support

CONTENT & DATA WITH MERCEDES GOSBY

We’ve developed 100+ resources to help startups open their food co-ops and reach financial stability after opening.

These *free* resources live in different areas, mainly our website and YouTube channel, and this year, my focus is making them easy to find and share with your fellow cooperators.

Expect to hear more about how your co-op can utilize these resources on social media (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) and directly in your inbox.

We’re so proud of this work and excited to get these tools, case studies, guides and videos into the hands of people all over the country.

Best,

Mercedes Gosby
Content & Data Manager

UPCOMING FCI EVENTS

FCI Live 2026 deadlines extended until Monday, February 2nd!

FCI Live is a FREE online conference for learning best practices for starting, organizing and opening community-owned retail grocery stores.

Sponsor FCI Live

Get your organization in front of thousands of cooperators across the U.S. The deadline to sponsor the series is Monday, February 2nd. Questions? Email JQ at jq@fci.coop.

Learn more about sponsor benefits and sign up to be a sponsor by Monday, Feb 2nd

Submit your talk for FCI Live

Got a great idea for a session that you want to present during FCI Live? Propose your idea for leading a 2026 FCI Live session!

Read the submission requirements then submit your talk by Monday, Feb 2nd

Attend FCI Live

Mark your calendars to attend the live series:

Monday, March 23 through Thursday
March 26 Monday, March 30 through Thursday, April 2

Registration to attend live opens Tuesday, February 17 (we’ll send a reminder email). Don’t worry if you can’t attend any of the talks when they’re live. We’ll post the recordings on the FCI YouTube channel in April.

Up & Coming 2026: Announcing dates & venue soon!

Up & Coming 2026 will be in Detroit, MI with our host co-op, the Detroit People’s Food Co-op (DPFC)! Up & Coming is a multi-day conference where you and 300+ of your fellow cooperators from across the country will share expert knowledge and build a movement together!

The P5 Corner

What’s P5 Corner? Cooperative Principle 5 emphasizes the importance of education, training, and information sharing. We want to hear from you! If you want to submit your P5, use this form for consideration.

Columinate Co-op Cafes: February & March 2026. Columinate is hosting several Stronger Together: Balancing Autonomy and Collective Power events, online and in-person. Learn more about registration and costs.

NEWS STARTUPS NEED TO KNOW

The 2026 Farm Stop Conference is happening February 12 – 15, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Farm stops are year-round, daily markets that support small-scale local farmers. Chris Dilley, Director of Startup Support, is co-presenting a talk with Casey Miller of Argus Farm Stop, titled ‘How to Start Your Farm Stop as a Co-op’. Learn more about the farm stop model.

Get Started with Food Co-op Initiative

Food Co-op Initiative provides exceptional resources for people in the U.S. working to start a retail food co-op that meets the needs of their community. New startups can use our materials at no charge and are able to reach out to our staff for phone consultations and additional technical help.

Popular Resources

Let’s Start a Food Co-op! What do we do first?

What can FCI Do for me?

Guide to Starting a Food Co-op

Annual Impact Reports

QuickStart from FCI Classroom

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