10 World’s Biggest Cooperatives-Based on the Report from International Cooperative Alliance (ICCOP) entitled “World Cooperative Monitor (Exploring the cooperative economy REPORT 2022)”, there are 10 World’s Biggest Cooperatives in 2020. This report basically rank the cooperative all across the world with has huge turnover in 2020.
Principally, a cooperative is an autonomous organization of persons that unite voluntarily to achieve the same economic, social, and cultural goals and aspirations. These cooperatives basically owned by people (members) and the director, or the supervisor of the cooperative is selected by people (members) as a stakeholder.
From the published report, The Top 300 by turnover ranking presents an overall total of 2,170.99 billion USD for the year 2020 with most of the cooperatives operating in the insurance sector (101 enterprises) and agricultural sector (100 enterprises), followed by the wholesale and retail trade (59 enterprises). Of all databases, there are 10 World’s Biggest Cooperatives. Here are the rank of 10 World’s Biggest Cooperatives. All of the data was obtained from “World Cooperative Monitor (Exploring the cooperative economy REPORT 2022)” by International Cooperative Alliance (ICOOP).
The Rank of 10 World’s Biggest Cooperatives in 2020
| Ranks | Name of cooperative | Turnover in 2020 | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Billion US$) | in 2020 | ||
| 1 | Groupe Crédit Agricole | 88.97 | 142,159 |
| 2 | REWE Group | 77.93 | 256,162 |
| 3 | Cooperative Financial Network Germany – BVR | 58.02 | 172,334 |
| 4 | National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations – ZEN-NOH | 57.69 | 27,594 |
| 5 | ACDLEC Leclerc | 54.83 | 140,000 |
| 6 | Groupe BPCE | 54.53 | 100,344 |
| 7 | Nippon Life | 48.61 | 95,352 |
| 8 | Talanx Group | 46.95 | 23,527 |
| 9 | Nonghyup (National Agricultural Cooperative Federation – NACF) | 44.81 | 27,774 |
| 10 | Edeka Zentrale | 44.27 | 402,000 |
| Source : World Cooperative Monitor 2022, International Cooperative Alliance | |||
Brief Descriptions of Top 10 World’s Biggest Cooperatives in 2020
1.Groupe Crédit Agricole
Crédit Agricole Group is the world’s largest cooperative financial institution in 2020. Financially, in 2020, the turnover of the Crédit Agricole Group reached US$ 88.97 billion. Historically, Crédit Agricole was founded in the district of Poligny in the Jura region on 5 November 1894. Operationally, this cooperative has main office in Montrouge, France. Based on the labor force, the cooperative has around 142,159 of employees. Based on its service, Groupe Crédit Agricole has some products and service. Some of the financial products are Retail banking, corporate banking, Investment banking, Private banking, Wealth management, and Asset management.
2.REWE Group
The Revisionsverband der Westkauf-Genossenschaften (REWE) Group is German retail and tourism Cooperative that has main office in Cologne, Germany. Historically, Rewe was founded in 1927. Financially in 2020, The RWE group has turnover around 77.93 billion US$. Along with business development, The Rewe has 256,162 of Employees.
Based on the trading business, Rewe Group has some supermarkets and chain stores. Some of them are REWE (supermarket in Germany), BILLA (supermarket in Austria), Penny (supermarket in Germany, Austria, Italy, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, nahkauf (convenience store in Germany), toom BauMarkt (A DIY/home improvement chain), Billa Plus (supermarket chain in Austria), BIPA (health and beauty retail chain in Austria and in Croatia), REWE Ihr Kaufpark (supermarket chain in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany), and Palink (supermarket chain in Lithuania).
3.Cooperative Financial Network Germany – BVR
The German Cooperative Financial Group (BVR) is financial cooperative from Germany. Basically, The German Cooperative Financial Group has main office in Berlin, Germany. Historically, this cooperative was created by 50 inhabitants of Öhringen in the Kingdom of Württemberg with the help of Economist, namely Franz Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch. From time to time, along with business development, this financial cooperative has 18.2 million members with 771 of local cooperative banks. Furthermore, this cooperative has 172,334 of Employees. Financially, Cooperative Financial Network Germany – BVR has turnover around 58.02 billion US$.
4.National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations – ZEN-NOH
The National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations (ZEN-NOH) is agricultural cooperate that was founded in 1972. This cooperative was created due to the merger between the ZENHANREN group (National Marketing Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations) and the ZENKOREN group (National Purchasing Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations).
Based on its business, ZEN-NOH has some diversified business with the core business in Agriculture sectors. Some of the business that was conducted by ZEN-NOH are export business, comprehensive cultivation measures, rice business, barley agricultural products business, gardening business, fertilizer business, crop protection business, agricultural machinery business, gardening materials and packaging materials business, facility farming business, livestock sales business, livestock production business, dairy business, and comprehensive energy business. Financially, in 2020, ZEN-NOH has turnover around 57.69 billion US$ with 27,594 of Employees
5. E.Leclerc
E.Leclerc is a French cooperative society that was founded by Édouard Leclerc on 1948. To Date, this company has main office in Ivry-sur-Seine, France. Based on its business, E.Leclerc has some business in trading and retail. This cooperative has some discount store, hypermarket, supercenter, superstore. Some of the outlet and business center of E.Leclerc are L’auto (Car Garage), Brico, Le Prou Construction, Espace Culturel, Jardin, Location, Manège à Bijoux, Optique, Parapharmacie, Sport, Station-Service, UNE HEURE POUR SOI, Bornes électriques, Animalerie, Jouets, and Occasion. Financially, in 2020, E.Leclerc cooperative has turnover around 54.83billion US$ with 140,000 of Employees.
6.Groupe BPCE
Groupe Banque Populaire Caisse d’Epargne or commonly known as Groupe BPCE is finance cooperative that was founded in 2009. Operationally, this cooperative has main office in France. Some of the major network of insurance and bank of Groupe BPCE are Banque Populaire, Caisse d’Epargne, Banque Palatine and Oney. Along with business development, this cooperative has 36 million of customers. Financially, in 2020, Groupe BPCE has turnover around 54.53 billion US$ with 100,344 of Employees.
7.Nippon Life
Nippon Life Insurance Company or commonly known as Nippon Life is Japanese financial cooperative that has main office in Imabashi Sanchōme, Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. Historically, this cooperative was founded in July 4th, 1889. Until 2021, Nippon Life has 1,510 of Sales Offices. Financially, in 2021, Nippon Life has turnover around 48.61 billion US$ with 95,352 of Employees.
8.Talanx Group
Talanx is a German insurance cooperative that has main office in Hannover. Historically, this company was founded in 1996. Operationally, the company has 23 thousand of employees with gross written premium around 1.1 billion Euros. In 2020, this cooperative has turnover around 46.95 billion US$ with 23,527 of Employees
9.Nonghyup (National Agricultural Cooperative Federation – NACF)
National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF) commonly known as NongHyup is South Korea cooperative that has main business in Agriculture and financial service. Basically, NongHyup is the largest Agricultural Cooperative in South Korea. Historically, this company was founded August 15th, 1961. To date, this cooperative has main office in Seoul South Korea. As the agriculture cooperative, NACF has 3 main activities in extension and support unit to its members (farmers), marketing and supply units of member (farmer), cooperative banking unit that giving the intermediary and facilitator of funding mechanism to its member. Financially, in 2020, NACF has turnover around 44.81 billion US$ with 27,774 of Employees.
10.Edeka Zentrale
The Edeka Group is German retail cooperative that has main office in Hamburg, Germany. Historically, this cooperative was founded in 1907. In terms of its business, Edeka has some stores including Bringmeister, nah und gut, EDEKA aktiv markt, EDEKA neukauf, EDEKA, EDEKA center (E-Center), EDEKA C&C Großmarkt, and EDEKA Großverbraucherservice. Financially, in 2020, the Edeka Zentrale has turnover around 44.27 billion US$ and has 402,000 of Employees.
Bibliography of Top 10 World’s Biggest Cooperatives
International Cooperative Alliance. 2022.World Cooperative Monitor (Exploring the cooperative economy). accessed via https://monitor.coop/sites/default/files/2022-11/WCM_2022.pdf on Janury 8th, 2023.
Groupe Crédit Agricole. Accessed via https://www.credit-agricole.com/ on January 8th, 2023.
REWE Group. Accessed via https://www.rewe-group.com/en/ on January 8th, 2023.
Cooperative Financial Network Germany – BVR. Accessed via https://www.bvr.de/ on January 8th, 2023.
National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations – ZEN-NOH. Accessed via https://www.zennoh.or.jp/english/ on January 8th, 2023.
ACDLEC Leclerc. Accessed via https://www.e.leclerc/ on January 8th, 2023.
Groupe BPCE. Accessed via https://groupebpce.com/ on January 8th, 2023.
Nippon Life. Accessed via https://www.nissay.co.jp/english/ on January 8th, 2023.
Talanx Group. Accessed via https://www.talanx.com/en/talanx-group on January 8th, 2023.
Nonghyup (National Agricultural Cooperative Federation – NACF). Accessed via https://www.nonghyup.com/eng/main/engMain.do on January 8th, 2023.
Edeka Zentrale. Accessed via https://www.edeka.de/ on January 8th, 2023.
