Melina Morrison addresses Go Vita Conference on the enduring power of co‑operation

17 February 2026

The Business Council of Co‑operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) CEO, Melina Morrison, delivered a powerful address to the Go Vita Annual Conference on the Gold Coast this week, highlighting how values‑led, member‑owned business models continue to strengthen Australia’s economy and support small and independent enterprises. Speaking to Go Vita members, suppliers and practitioners gathered under the conference theme The Next Level Impact, Melina connected the legacy of the Rochdale Pioneers to the contemporary success of Australia’s largest wholesale and retail health store co‑operative.

A legacy that leads directly to today

Melina opened her keynote by taking the audience back to the origins of the modern co‑operative movement:

“Ladies and gentlemen, let me start with an apocryphal story that starts 181 years ago, on a bitterly cold winter’s morning in the town of Rochdale outside Manchester, and leads directly to those gathered here today in this room.

The date was December 21, 1844, and the location was 31 Toad Lane… Folks, it was a small group of 28 men and women of meagre means who decided to band together to open a store selling food and staples they could not otherwise afford… Within three months they expanded their selection… By the end of their first year trading, the Pioneers had 80 members and £182 of capital.”

She reminded delegates that these early decisions created a blueprint that continues to shape business models around the world. The seven co‑operative principles established in Rochdale remain embedded in Go Vita’s constitution today, representing an unbroken line of shared success.

Why co‑operatives matter now more than ever

In her remarks, Melina reinforced that co‑operation is not simply a business structure but a strategic response to unfair or concentrated markets.

“Folks, co‑operatives are not just a better way to do business – it is the best if your purpose is to get a better deal for your business as independents joining forces with others.

Retail, marketing and buying groups like Go Vita have cleverly and strategically set up in markets that favour larger entrants to enable smaller businesses to not only survive but thrive. You are market activists, strategically collaborating through purchasing and shared services so that you individually and collectively compete.”

From predatory pricing to the challenges of accessing risk capital, Melina highlighted the headwinds independent businesses face and the essential role co‑operation plays in navigating them.

“Co‑operation is not a nice to have – it’s a necessity wherever the market is unfair or inequitable.”

A multiplier effect for Australian industry

Melina praised Go Vita for the economic and social value it delivers across the health and wellbeing sector. In addition to shared purchasing and a collaborative governance model, Go Vita supports hundreds of Australian suppliers who rely on the co‑operative as a channel to market. These businesses include farmers, product innovators, R&D specialists and Australian founders who benefit from a distribution network built on trust and long‑term relationships.

Delegates also heard about the impact of Go Vita’s national network of in‑store naturopaths and practitioners who help consumers make informed, expert‑led decisions. The result is a win–win for independent businesses and Australian consumers, generating an economic multiplier effect that extends far beyond the group itself.

Co‑operatives: a crucial lever for competition and fairness

Melina emphasised that the Australian economy benefits directly from the presence of co‑operatives and mutuals in concentrated markets:

“Without you and the 2000 other co‑operatives in Australia there would be less competition, poorer consumer choice and more cartel behaviour. Co‑operatives and their cousins mutuals bring transparency and accountability to markets… They are a panacea to oligopolies and bring diversity of corporate structures to enrich our economy and better pricing for our customers.”

She reminded delegates that co‑operation is deeply human, learned early and reinforced through team sports, shared endeavour and community life.

“Sometimes in order to win in the bigger games, we need to work together. Co‑operation is not the antidote to competition. It is a way to compete.”

Celebrating Go Vita’s shared success

Melina closed by congratulating Go Vita’s board, members and partners for embodying a modern expression of the Rochdale spirit:

“Ladies and gentlemen, let me congratulate you on your shared success through the Go Vita Co‑operative.”

Her remarks underscored the ongoing relevance of collaborative, member‑owned business models and their role in driving long‑term prosperity for communities, consumers and independent enterprises.