Our Objects

The rulebook of every co-operative society must include an ‘objects clause’ which includes all the activities for which the co-operative has been set up to undertake. These were agreed amongst the members as part of the formal registration of the society in 1991 and have been little changed since.

Our founding members staked out a commitment to vegetarianism, sustainable consumption, food sovereign and community-led food systems at a time when these ideas appeared radical. They are now increasingly mainstream.

The Co-ordinating Body and Management Team have been guided by these objects as it has developed our current vision, purpose and values, and set our strategic direction.

Objects Clause

The objects of the society are:

(a) to take over the whole of the undertaking, property and assets and all the debts, liabilities and engagements of an unincorporated society known as the “Dublin Food Co-op”

(b) to provide wholesome, nutritious food and ecologically acceptable products and services to its members, who will be composed of ultimate consumers, in accordance with the following principles:

[i] to deal in organically grown wholefoods and Irish-produced wholefoods if possible;

[ii] to discriminate in favour of ecologically acceptable products and not to deal in meat or meat products;

[iii] to promote the rational use of the earth’s resources and in particular to promote the use of ecologically acceptable packaging;

[iv] to discriminate positively in favour of countries which uphold basic human rights, when importing wholefoods;

[v] to supply wholefoods to its members at the wholesale or supplier cost plus the minimum margin necessary to cover the Society’s operating expenses and the need for financial reserves;

[vi] to aim to make shopping an amiable, communal experience;

(c) to promote co-operation and co-operatives;

(d) to carry on any other business or undertaking which may be determined by a General Meeting capable of being conveniently carried on in connection with the foregoing objects;

(e) to acquire by purchase, exchange, lease, fee farm grant or otherwise either for an estate in fee simple or for any lesser estate or interest whether immediate or reversionary, whether vested or contingent and whether legal or equitable, any lands, tenements or hereditaments of any tenure whether subject or not to any charges or encumbrances and to hold and manage or farm and work or sell, let, alienate, mortgage, lease or charge any such land, tenement or hereditaments;

(f) to construct, maintain, alter, decorate, enlarge, demolish or replace buildings of any description and to clear sites for the same and to work and/or manage the same;

(g) to establish, join, support and subscribe to, or aid in the establishment and support of any organisations, funds, trusts or conveniences which may be determined by a General Meeting capable of:

[i] benefiting the Society or its members or employees or ex-employees or the dependents of any of the foregoing persons or

[ii] promoting any other benevolent object; provided however that the Society shall not affiliate to or join any political party or political organisation committed to the pursuit of power.

(h) to do all such other things as may be deemed incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them;

(i) to provide or arrange for the provision of any service or services which may be for the benefit of the members and others including the arranging of suitable training and awareness programmes;

(j) generally to engage in any business or transaction which may seem to the Society directly or indirectly conducive to the interests or convenience of its members or in pursuance thereof, and to do all things which may be necessary or expedient from time to time for accomplishing the aforesaid objects or any of them;

(k) to promote co-operation and in particular, to promote consumer wholefood co-operatives as an important means of building a locally integrated food economy;

(l) to actively oppose the introduction and proliferation of all forms of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in order to safeguard the food supplied to members, protect Ireland’s biodiversity and food sovereignty and the integrity of ecosystems globally;

(m) to encourage the use of the Irish language in our social and economic relationships and to promote Irish culture where possible.