Les supermarchés coopératifs et participatifs, un modèle socio-productif émergeant ?

The crisis of mass distribution as well as the current economic, social, and environmental issues contribute to transforming the landscape of the French food distribution sector. In this context a myriad of economic actors are emerging, driven by the desire to provide alternatives to the conventiona...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Clotilde Grassart
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association Recherche & Régulation
Series:Revue de la Régulation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/regulation/22518
_version_ 1797314960501506048
author Clotilde Grassart
author_facet Clotilde Grassart
author_sort Clotilde Grassart
collection DOAJ
description The crisis of mass distribution as well as the current economic, social, and environmental issues contribute to transforming the landscape of the French food distribution sector. In this context a myriad of economic actors are emerging, driven by the desire to provide alternatives to the conventional food distribution system. This is precisely the case of the food coop model inspired by Park Slope Food Coop, that has been imported and popularized in France by La Louve. Its goal is to take the supermarket format and turn it into a non-profit model, by updating consumer cooperative spirit and principles from the 19th century. This article is based on fieldwork that aims at identifying, characterizing and listing French food coops. Interviews with the employees, founders and administrators of these initiatives were conducted to examine their socio-productive characteristics in light of contemporary sectoral transformations. The aim shared by all the promoters we met is to make inroads into the market sphere with the development of a promise to be different so as to challenge the dominant model within the sector. However, in addition to this common project, the methods of differentiation from mass retailing diverge and divide. The field shows significant disparities in terms of strategies, which are manifested in the development of different product policies, production organizations, or work relations. This diversity leads to a blurring of organizational boundaries with other emerging initiatives that share this anti-establishment outlook, like “les épis” (wheat ears) and “les coopératives alimentaires autogérées” (self-managed food cooperatives).
first_indexed 2024-03-08T02:54:11Z
format Article
id doaj.art-845ec550d4ef47bcb8bd0137410a8e11
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1957-7796
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T02:54:11Z
publisher Association Recherche & Régulation
record_format Article
series Revue de la Régulation
spelling doaj.art-845ec550d4ef47bcb8bd0137410a8e112024-02-13T13:02:18ZengAssociation Recherche & RégulationRevue de la Régulation1957-779634110.4000/regulation.22518Les supermarchés coopératifs et participatifs, un modèle socio-productif émergeant ?Clotilde GrassartThe crisis of mass distribution as well as the current economic, social, and environmental issues contribute to transforming the landscape of the French food distribution sector. In this context a myriad of economic actors are emerging, driven by the desire to provide alternatives to the conventional food distribution system. This is precisely the case of the food coop model inspired by Park Slope Food Coop, that has been imported and popularized in France by La Louve. Its goal is to take the supermarket format and turn it into a non-profit model, by updating consumer cooperative spirit and principles from the 19th century. This article is based on fieldwork that aims at identifying, characterizing and listing French food coops. Interviews with the employees, founders and administrators of these initiatives were conducted to examine their socio-productive characteristics in light of contemporary sectoral transformations. The aim shared by all the promoters we met is to make inroads into the market sphere with the development of a promise to be different so as to challenge the dominant model within the sector. However, in addition to this common project, the methods of differentiation from mass retailing diverge and divide. The field shows significant disparities in terms of strategies, which are manifested in the development of different product policies, production organizations, or work relations. This diversity leads to a blurring of organizational boundaries with other emerging initiatives that share this anti-establishment outlook, like “les épis” (wheat ears) and “les coopératives alimentaires autogérées” (self-managed food cooperatives).https://journals.openedition.org/regulation/22518crisisautonomycompetitionretailcooperationalternative
spellingShingle Clotilde Grassart
Les supermarchés coopératifs et participatifs, un modèle socio-productif émergeant ?
Revue de la Régulation
crisis
autonomy
competition
retail
cooperation
alternative
title Les supermarchés coopératifs et participatifs, un modèle socio-productif émergeant ?
title_full Les supermarchés coopératifs et participatifs, un modèle socio-productif émergeant ?
title_fullStr Les supermarchés coopératifs et participatifs, un modèle socio-productif émergeant ?
title_full_unstemmed Les supermarchés coopératifs et participatifs, un modèle socio-productif émergeant ?
title_short Les supermarchés coopératifs et participatifs, un modèle socio-productif émergeant ?
title_sort les supermarches cooperatifs et participatifs un modele socio productif emergeant
topic crisis
autonomy
competition
retail
cooperation
alternative
url https://journals.openedition.org/regulation/22518
work_keys_str_mv AT clotildegrassart lessupermarchescooperatifsetparticipatifsunmodelesocioproductifemergeant