wAnderCoop: New co-op supermarket opens in Anderlecht

A new co-operative supermarket has opened in Anderlecht. People can become members of wAnderCoop by buying shares in order to have access to the shop.

wAnderCoop is the second fully co-operative supermarket in Belgium, following Bees Coop in Schaerbeek, which opened in 2018. A co-operative supermarket is made up of members who buy shares. Only members can access the shop and usually have to work a few hours a month in the shop as well.

At wAnderCoop, which is located at Avenue de Saïo 16, members are required to work a minimum of three hours a month. Shares cost €100, part of which is tax deductible. Only one share is required to become a member of the co-op.

The supermarket was started by a group of five women who could not find the kind of products they wanted to buy at other shops in Anderlecht. Most of what is sold in wAnderCoop, which offers food and personal care products, is either organic or produced locally – or both.

The new initiative currently has about 270 members. Anyone can become a member by buying a share and committing to the working hours. Work could be carried out at the register, stocking shelves, ordering stock or through administrative tasks.

Photo courtesy wAnderCoop