Abstract: Discusses the efforts of food cooperative stores in the U.S. to adopt competitive business practices. Success of co-ops in the 1960s and 1970s; Factors influencing the decline of co-ops in the 1980s; Competition from large corporations; Failure of boards of directors to address the problem of mismanagement; Consequence of the insistence on process over product; Decision to focus on mergers, consolidation and control of local co-ops at the warehouse level-management issues.

　　Subjects: CONSUMER cooperatives; FOOD industry & trade; COMPETITION; UNITED States; Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing; All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing