It's important, also, that the membership is open to all. It is not restricted by social, political, religious, or class distinctions. Contrary to popular belief, this does not mean that each member actively makes decisions on business practices and policies. However, it does mean that each member has one vote in choosing the Board of Directors who they feel will serve the best interests of the co-op. Thus, the members elect the Board and then the Board, in turn, hires the manager.
Service is more important than profits.
Of course, profits are important for the health of the business, but profits are not the sole or even the major focus of the business. Profits are used as a means to an end and are not the end goal. A co-op is a social organization. Cooperation among cooperatives is essential. Supermarkets generally have a higher markup and larger overhead than co-ops.