Scotland’s experts on farmer co-ops and food industry collaboration, we work with food and farming businesses to make them more profitable, competitive, and sustainable - #workingtogether to shape the future, today.
All our work helps facilitate farmers and food and drink businesses to work together effectively. Over the years we've expanded and developed subsidiary businesses - getting the right people together and making innovative advancements - to help benefit food, farming and rural Scotland.
Developing staff capability is one of the most effective ways to improve a co-op’s performance. Check out our events and training programme - most of which are open to non co-op members too.
As a development organisation, owned by our members, we provide a range of specialist services not available elsewhere, to assist them in developing their people and their businesses. Get in touch to find out how we can help you.
See below for all the latest news, views and updates from us here at SAOS. Find all our latest videos on YouTube at: SAOS - working together in food and farming
Co-ops are found in all sectors - from high street retailers to community-owned pubs; fan-owned football clubs or farmer-controlled businesses - which is where we come in.
SAOS works with agricultural and rural co-ops. SAOS itself is a co-op, owned by our member co-op businesses who operate across Scotland. We’ve been helping set up and workomg with Scotland’s farming and rural co-ops since 1905.
Agricultural co-ops help farmers strengthen their position in competitive and global markets. Sharing ownership creates greater engagement, interest and concern for the long term interests of the business. Pooling their resources gives agri co-op members a wide range of benefits. Co-op members share equal voting rights regardless of the amount of capital they put in.
All co-ops operate to, and are bound by, a set of rules (you can read SAOS's Rules here)
At the core of every co-op, are a set of shared co-op principles.
Find out more in our Co-op FAQs