A
food cooperative or
food co-op is a food distribution outlet organized as a
cooperative. Food cooperatives are usually
consumers' cooperatives where the decisions regarding the production and distribution of its food is chosen by its members. Food cooperatives follow the
7 Cooperative Principles and typically offer
natural foods. Since decisions about how to run a cooperative are not made by outside shareholders, cooperatives often exhibit a higher degree of
social responsibility than their corporate analogues.