One of many consumer cooperatives started during the years of the Great Depression, the Hanover Consumer Co-op is now among the oldest in the United States. During nearly 75 years of operation, the products and services offered by the Co-op have changed in response to the changing needs of our members.
In January of 1936, 17 Hanover, New Hampshire, and Norwich, Vermont, residents formed the Hanover Consumer’s Club. Initially, members of the fledgling co-op pooled orders for potatoes, oranges, and maple syrup and arranged for discounts of gasoline and fuel oil with local suppliers. Today the Co-op serves more than 28,000 member households with retail locations in both New Hampshire and Vermont and sales topping $65 million. The Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society operates three Co-op Food Stores, the Co-op Community Food Market, the Co-op Service Center, and Co-op Commissary Kitchen. These businesses are operated for the benefit of our members and community.
All of the Co-op's retail food stores offer an extraordinary selection of products—including natural and organic produce and meats, a complete selection of brand-name and store-label groceries, natural health and body care, wines and cheeses, and a wide variety of local products.
Hanover's Co-op Market is a 5,000 sf community store that is essentially a junior version of their larger stores. The Co-op Market received the New Hampshire Lean and Green Award for buildings that feature environmental designs that also focus on strong potential for positive return on investment. Members and customers visiting the Co-op Market will find it easy to supplement their weekly shopping, find a nice bottle of wine, get morning coffee, or a meal on the run.