Freiburg Hub Update: “Ko-Opt” pilot project concluded

The research team from the University of Freiburg (Sophia McRae, Laura Simons and Arnim Wiek) have completed their pilot project, “Ko-Opt” (Cooperative conversion and business optimization of organic food retailers).

Picture of the Freiburg Team

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “Ko-Opt” project was carried out between October 2024 and December 2025 as a collaboration between the Humboldt Professorship for Sustainable Food Systems at the University of Freiburg, regional organic wholesalers (Rinklin Naturkost, Bodan Großhandel für Naturkost GmbH), business consultancy specialising in organic retailers (SDServices), and a networking organisation for sustainability in the food system (Regionalwert AG Freiburg-Südbaden). The aim was to promote the financial stabilisation of independent, owner-managed organic shops through a dual consultancy model. Four organic shops participated in this project and underwent consulting services in business optimization and the development and implementation of individual consumer-cooperative business models. This integrated approach was designed to assess both short-term operational stabilisation measures and strategic development through changes to community-supported business models. The final project report is currently in review and will be published in German on the website of the Humboldt-Professorship for Sustainable Food Economy (University of Freiburg) in Summer 2026.

 

Picture of the Project