Consumer co-operatives are managed by consumers, and the co-operatives are meant to jointly fulfill all of the needs of the members. Food co-ops, for example, own and operate their own grocery store, usually offering all-natural food products.

On this day, December 21, in 1844, The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers opened a small grocery store, which started the food co-operative movement. When first opened, the store was only stocked with a limited supply of butter, sugar, flour, oatmeal, and candles.

After a few months, the store gained recognition and expanded to include tea and tobacco. The Rochdale Pioneers joined together to start a co-op because the Industrial Revolution had pushed many of the founding members out of their high-skill jobs. They quickly became the first notable co-op, inspiring others to form similar societies. In the next ten years, the co-operative movement in Britain had expanded to almost 1,000 independent co-operatives.