What is Co-op Fortnight?
Originally launched in 2010, Co-op Fortnight has gone from strength to strength.
Co-op Fortnight is organised by Co-operatives UK and is then brought to life through events and sharing stories about the power of co‑operation via social media.
This year Infinity Foods and every other co-operative in the UK will be telling inspiring stories that show how co-ops are making a difference to people, to communities and the wider economy.
Co‑op Fortnight takes place from Monday 19 June to Sunday 2 July, with the International Day of Co-ops taking place on Saturday 1 July.
Co-op Fortnight is an opportunity for us to shout about how proud we are to be a co-operative.
– Kellie Bubble, worker owner, Unicorn Grocery
We aren’t always the best at shouting about how being a member of a co-operative business, movement and economy is so great. So, here we go!
Simply defined, a worker co-operative is a business run by its workers for its workers. It is jointly owned and democratically run by its members. There are no outside shareholders or investors to satisfy, or company bosses that don’t really know what is going on day to day.
We support our local economy by working with other local businesses, producers and growers. What we do with our profits is decided by the workers; given to charity, invested back into Infinity Foods and any surplus is paid to the workers as a profit-share bonus. You will never see our profits taken out of the local economy, hidden in offshore bank accounts or given to distant 3rd parties.
In the face of adversity and tough economic times, it’s empowering to know that as a member of Infinity Foods co-operative you have the democratic say on the running of your workplace and the security of the collective group; with no distant bosses or shareholders diverting the profits you have earned out of your pocket, or dictating business decisions the workers know won’t work.
Ideas of equality and fairness are fundamental to the co-operative. We gauge the success of the business not only in terms of profit but also through environmental and social responsibility and involvement in our local community.
We give a proportion of our profits to charity. These are usually local charities that are dealing with problems such as poverty and homelessness in Brighton & Hove or environmental charities that are working to protect our Sussex wildlife. Infinity Foods Wholesale donates to S.O.S Sumatran Orangutan Society in recognition of the number of products we sell that contain ingredients originating from palm oil.
We are also committed to working within the community by sponsoring many of the wonderful local schemes which are flourishing under initiatives such as the Real Junk Food Project, to which we also donate foods such as rice, lentils and herbs.
We also take responsibility for our unsold food, donating bread, fruit and veg and other items to homeless shelters and local food banks.
Throughout the year we help our local community by donating gift vouchers and prizes for local Schools and Charities holding fundraising events.
Over the years we have sponsored great local events to help enrich the culture and community of Brighton & Hove.
We have been the lead sponsor for Seedy Sunday (The UK’s largest and oldest official seed swap) since it began in 2002. And in 2021 during the covid pandemic and lockdown we sponsored the Brighton Festival to ensure that during adversity our community thrived and kept Brighton weird, fun and arty.
Infinity Foods has been a worker co-operative since 1979. Simply defined, a worker co-operative is a business run by its workers for its workers. It is jointly owned and democratically run by its members and to be a member you must work for Infinity Foods co-operative.
At Infinity Foods, you are not just an employee, we provide our workers with great benefits.
Infinity Foods has a starting wage of £11.95 in line with the real London living wage, we provide 8 weeks of full sick pay and give up to 7.6 weeks of holiday to give its workers a great work-life balance. Working at Infinity Foods you work in cooperation with your colleagues which means if there is any surplus earned you are entitled to your share of the profits.
We gauge the success of the business not only in terms of profit but also through environmental and social responsibility and involvement in our local community. That is why you will never see any ultra-processed ingredients in our products; our cereal is made of complete whole foods and our bakery products are certified organic with our bread made of only 3 – 4 ingredients.
So, how are we doing? We strive to follow co-operative principles and values.