When was the co-operative movement started?

The co-operative movement began in the early 19th century, with the establishment of the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers in 1844 in Rochdale, England. This group of weavers and other tradesmen aimed to create a fair trading system by pooling their resources to sell quality goods at fair prices. The principles established by the Rochdale Pioneers laid the foundation for modern cooperative societies worldwide.