Bios Coop : a social initiative and the sustainable role it plays to the local community : a study of the purchasing patterns of local food products during crisis

Abstract

The aim of this research was to identify the motives of the consumers who purchase products from the "Social Consumer Cooperative Bios" which is established in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece. The purpose of the research was to present consumers opinion regarding "Bios Coop" while identifying the role that social cooperatives have in the society during the Greek economic crisis. Furthermore, were investigated the opportunities that social cooperatives are able to offer to the people. The main body of the research was discussed according to Social Economy and Sustainability theory. "Bios Coop" is a non-profit social cooperative, which was conducted by the coiling of citizens and aims to distribute high food quality to its clients. The researcher used the Qualitative methods research analysis in order to explain the findings, interviews. The participants of the interviews were clients and members of the Board of Directors of -Bios Coop. The main findings that I was willing to find through the research, were related to the motives, based on which consumers tent to purchase food products from "Bios" and the perception that consumers have about Social Economy and Sustainability. The conclusions of the research are related to the role that social cooperatives play within the Greek society, the results of their operation and the benefits for the consumers. This present research paper approaches the social cooperatives by presenting the successful example of "Bios Coop"