The two co-ops I belong to also seem underwhelming, even though they seem strong. My food/fuel co-op likes to claim that it gave back $17M last year. I think it has 40 stores (grocery, fuel, agri-business, liquor). That's about $400,000 profit per store, which is not much given the volume these stores need to break even.

With the amount of people complaining about the nefarious ways of the corporate world, many of these customers should give their business to the co-op model. But too many people cannot make this decision.

I have belonged to co-ops that eventually returned to the private ownership.

There is something in the co-op model that does not produce that "killer instinct" to move beyond survival and a small return. I think the spolu will find that instinct.