I remember a conversation that I had with a couple of directors of one of MEPZA’s largest cooperative some time last year. We talked about the future of cooperatives and what they can do to serve and help their members. We discussed a variety of topics related to investments that they were interested in and what it meant for their members. It was a big eye opening discussion that struck with me, and made me appreciate the unique role that coops can play for many of our hard working “working class” employees.

Fast forward a couple of months later, Marketworks Asia, Inc. , a consulting firm that I am connected with, was asked to help develop and conceptualize a new commercial complex on a existing furniture factory. We had several meetings and the topic of what kind of innovation could we do that would benefit the public especially in hard times of today. I remembered that conversation and brought up the possibilities of asking cooperatives if they were interested in putting up a unique supermarket that would fit their objectives. It was a dream that we did not know would soon come true.

Jonathan Ramos, Chief Organizer of Kumprahan was just the right guy to put this together. He spent a large part of his younger years in the Carbon Market assisting his parents in their store, selling all sorts of produce like rice , eggs , etc. From that humble beginning , he was able ,thru hard work, become a financial planner with his own consulting agency ; helping clients plan and implement a financial plan for their future.

Jon took up the challenge and was able to organize the different producers, wholesalers and other stakeholders of his childhood and convince them that it was time to innovate. He was also able to get the support of Coopcentrum , a association of 14 cooperatives led by VICTO National Federation and the Philippine Cooperative Central Fund Federation. Other members include Timex Credit Cooperative, Timex Consumers Cooperative, Cebu CFI Community Cooperative, Lear Employees Multi Purpose Cooperative, Lexmark Employees Cooperative, Celestica Employees Multi Cooperative, SCEGA Cooperative, Guadalupe Multi Purpose Cooperative, Kings Employees Multi Purpose Cooperative, Mandaue Market Vendors Multi Purpose Cooperative, as well as several other provincial cooperatives.

Coopcentrum has partnered with Jon and invested into the project. Imagine a supermarket with an instant consumer base of almost 800,000 members as well as 224 member cooperatives. The beauty of it is that not only would the members of the different coops get to enjoy the best pricing as well as the freshest produce, they will also benefit from the business being all co owners.

Zeny Novabos, the Chair of the Philippines Cooperative Central Fund Federation and a Board of Director of Coopcentrum shared ,“The Coopcentrum Kumprahan is an answer to the dream of the cooperatives managing their own store. It is a store cooperatives can claim as their own. Best prices can be offered to the member cooperators, directly through the Coopcentrum or indirectly through the cooperative stores.”

Congratulations to Kumprahan Supermerkado which will be soft opening this October 29,2009 with a flower festival, offering flowers at “Carbon” prices with grand opening on November 15,2009. Congratulations Jon and Gladys!

Bridges Town Square will also soft open with the opening of Kumprahan and the opening of Oyster Bay soon to follow by December.

On another note, I want to invite people to watch a very special family movie, “A Journey Home” which will be a special screening at the SM cinema 7 and 8 this Saturday and Sunday. Show times are only at 4pm and 7pm on both days.

Let’s follow the examples of these ordinary individuals as they strive to make a difference. Each week, lets all get together and share knowledge, stories, experiences, information, all for the sole purpose of getting One Step Up.

For comments, suggestions or stories that you want to share, email me at
stirspecialist@gmail.com , or visit www.stirspecialist.blogspot.com