Winnipeg’s Eadha Bakery Worker Co-op began as the brainchild of Cora Wiens, who started selling bread at farmers markets, and finding success with this venture, eventually moved into a bricks and mortar space. The onset of the pandemic, however, highlighted the challenges of running a sole proprietorship, and the worker co-op model beckoned. Beginning late in 2021, the conversion process wrapped up in June of 2023, a shift Co-op member Mack Parman says all Eadha’s members are glad they made.
“I think for all of us, really, it makes the most sense,” they say. “To do something where we are actually working together, especially because so much of what we want to do and strive to do is work within the community and support the community. So why not work in more of a community model ourselves?”
The Co-op’s five members have come together with varied skill sets but shared values. The worker co-op model, Parman says, has allowed them to share the less appealing tasks associated with running a business while also giving everyone a chance to participate in the baking, their main interest. Parman doesn’t believe this would be the case in a conventional business.
“Just helping the community, being a part of something, and having actual agency over myself and my work is incredibly important to me,” they say, “and something I literally never thought that I would ever have as a young person.”
Eadha’s main challenge, Parman believes, is simply acquiring more visibility as a small business facing tight profit margins. But this is still something they’d much rather face as a member of a worker co-op, which they believe has lessened many of the challenges they’d face otherwise.
“We have less financial issues, nobody is fighting with each other, we all get along really well,” they say.
Having a compatible team is crucial for any business contemplating a co-op conversion, Parman believes. While it will take a lot of time and money, just as it did for Eadha, they believe the rewards are worth it.
“Make sure that you have the people around you that are going to do everything that they can to get through this because it is so much work, a lot of little things, a lot of big things. Find a good co-op developer. I think that is super important. The biggest thing would be talk to other people who have done it. Because it’s totally possible. It can be done.”
Looking ahead, Eadha hopes to continue its support for the surrounding community. Whether that involves moving to a new location or expanding its current one, Parman envisions a space that could provide somewhere for people to cool down, warm up, or otherwise come together.
“We just want to have a space where people can come and just be safe and comfortable and happy and fed,” they say.