Universal Cooperatives

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*Cooperatives*

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Housing cooperative Building cooperative Retailers' cooperative Utility cooperative Worker cooperative Social cooperative Consumers' cooperative Agricultural cooperative Credit union Cooperative banking Cooperative federation Cooperative union Cooperative wholesale society Mutual insurance
*The Rochdale Principles*
Voluntary and open membership Democratic member control Member economic participation Autonomy and independence Education, training, and information Cooperation among cooperatives Concern for community
*Political and Economic Theories*
Anarchism Cooperative federalism Cooperative individualism Owenism Third way Socialism Socially responsible investing Social enterprise
Key Theorists
Robert Owen William King The Rochdale Pioneers G.D.H. Cole Charles Gide Beatrice Webb Friedrich Raiffeisen David Griffiths
Organizations
List of cooperatives List of cooperative federations International Co-operative Alliance Co-operative Party
· v • d • e

Universal Cooperatives, based in Eagan, Minnesota, is a cooperative controlled by 17 regional agricultural marketing and agricultural supply cooperatives. The distribution system includes 110 regional feed mills, 26 warehouses, and 7 research farms. The company was formed November 1, 1972 by a merger of United Cooperatives, Inc. of Alliance, Ohio and National Cooperatives, Inc. of Albert Lea, Minnesota. The companies had inter-mixed ownership, leading to merger discussion, and eventual merger.

1 United Cooperatives, Inc.
2 National Cooperatives, Inc.
3 Brands
4 External link

[edit] United Cooperatives, Inc.

United Cooperatives began in 1930 as Farm Bureau Oil Company, and changed its name in 1936. Founding members include:

Indiana Farm Bureau Cooperative Association, Indianapolis, Indiana
Farm Bureau Services, Inc., Lansing, Michigan
Ohio Farm Bureau Service Company, Columbus, Ohio

[edit] National Cooperatives, Inc.

National Cooperatives was founded in 1933 by

Farm Bureau Oil Company, Indianapolis, Indiana
Central Cooperative Wholesale, Superior, Wisconsin
Farmers Union Central Exchange, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Midland Cooperative Oil Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Union Oil Company (Missouri), North Kansas City, Missouri

[edit] Brands

Universal owns the CO-OP brand, which is used on tires, batteries, farm chemicals, animal health products, twine, and lubricants. It distributes tires through the Mr. Tire chain.