Cooperative Excellence Awards at CCMA

Description in our record

Do you know an outstanding food cooperator who deserves to be recognized? Or have you been admiring the progress, growth, innovation, or resilience of a particular co-op. Here is your opportunity to recognize them! The CCMA Awards are the food co-op sector’s opportunity to recognize colleagues and cooperatives for their contributions, leadership, and commitment to cooperative values. Nominations are made by the food co-op community and reviewed by a panel of peers selected by CCMA steward, UW Center for Cooperatives. If you know of a food co-op or someone in the food co-op community who deserves commendation, please nominate them! Create a Submittable account and complete the online application. AWARD CATEGORIES Cooperative Excellence (Retailer of the Year) Eligible nominees: Retail grocery cooperatives Description: This award recognizes overall excellence in cooperative retail operations, grounded in cooperative principles and designed to serve both members and the broader community. Evaluation Criteria Organizational Effectiveness: Demonstrates excellence in store operations, systems, and/or management practices; uses data, learning, and continuous improvement to strengthen performance and resilience. Business Results: Achieves consistent financial success while meeting member and customer needs and advancing cooperative principles, community benefit, and long-term sustainability. Eligibility: Eligible nominees: Individual working at a retail food cooperative Description: The Cooperative Service Award honors an individual whose above-and-beyond contributions, leadership, and commitment to cooperative principles have made a lasting, positive impact on their co-op’s operations, culture, and mission.; Eligible nominees: Individuals serving on a cooperative board of directors Description: The Cooperative Board Service Award honors a food co-op board member whose exceptional dedication, leadership, and commitment to cooperative principles have strengthened democratic governance and advanced the co-op’s goals through extraordinary contributions of time, talent, and service to both the co-op and its community. Evaluation Criteria:; Eligible nominees: Individual staff, board members, or cooperative champions who are working within or in service to cooperative enterprises. Description: This award celebrates individuals who are helping redefine what’s possible in our sector—whose efforts have created meaningful change, inspired others, and contributed to a more just and thriving cooperative ecosystem. Evaluation Criteria:; Eligible nominees: Retail grocery cooperatives and individual staff, board member, or cooperative champion. Description: The Cooperative Innovation Award honors individuals, groups, or co-ops whose creative, forward-thinking solutions have transformed how cooperatives address challenges, delivering measurable, mission-aligned improvements grounded in cooperative principles. Evaluation Criteria:.