What started off as a buying club in the basement of Hanover homes in 1936 has grown into one of the state’s largest and oldest cooperatives—Hanover Co-op Food Stores and Auto Service Centers—generating $90 million in annual sales. A cornerstone of the Upper Valley region, the co-op and its more than 340 employees serve communities in both NH and Vermont through three food stores, two auto service centers, a gas station, and a production kitchen.
The Co-op collaborates with hundreds of local and regional food producers, offering approximately 4,000 products sourced within a 100-mile radius. “We have a conventional product line, as well as local and organic products, and call ourselves a hybrid Co-op,” says Amanda Charland, the Co-op’s general manager, explaining the Co-op is member owned and run by a board of directors. The co-op sells its shares for $5 each and people can become members once they own $50 worth of shares. “We work very hard to have a lot of options for people.”
The co-op also partners with nonprofits on programs like the “Double Up Food Bucks Program” helping Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients afford more fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as charitable giving programs.
Charland says it’s the people who make the Hanover Co-op an important resource for the community. She started her career there 13 years ago as the sustainability coordinator and was promoted to general manager three years ago. “I fell in love with the cooperative model,” Charland says. “We get to help meet community needs and don’t have a bunch of shareholders trying to make money off the business.”
The Co-op strives to meet community needs. Its auto service centers focus on customer service and environmentally friendly products. “It’s not about profit, profit, profit,” Charland says.
Hanover Co-op Food Stores and Auto Service Centers partners with LISTEN Community Services on their holiday baskets program where customers are given an opportunity to purchase gift cards for food for families and seniors in need during the holiday. Car Connects is another partnership with LISTEN Community Services that offsets the cost of auto repairs and other auto-related expenses for people in need. “We’re trying to show up to find ways to support our communities, especially for folks who need it most,” Charland says.
To learn more about these winning companies and celebrate their success with them, join us at the Business of the Year Awards celebration to be held on June 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown Hotel. For more information or to purchase tickets or tables, visit BusinessNHmagazine.com.
