From: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Founded in 1995, Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-op is a worker-owned co-operative based in Nova Scotia. As Canada’s first fair trade and organic coffee roaster, Just Us! was created not only to sell coffee but also to advocate for social and environmental justice. The co-operative champions an alternative trade model that prioritizes equity, sustainability and the empowerment of small-scale coffee producers.
Committed to organic excellence, Just Us! ensures that its products support healthy soils, biodiversity and responsible farming practices. In 2011, the co-operative was also the first company in the world to obtain the Small Producers Symbol (SPP) label, which represents a fair-trade network fully owned and controlled by small producers.
Beyond coffee, Just Us! plays a vital role in its local economy as a key rural employer. Its cafés and roastery serve as spaces for community engagement, fostering connections between coffee lovers and the farmers who produce their beans. Through its worker-owned structure, Just Us! embodies the co-operative values of democracy, fairness and shared success.
By supporting Just Us!, consumers become part of a global movement toward ethical trade, sustainability and economic justice—one cup at a time.
For information on co-operatives in Nova Scotia, visit the Government of Nova Scotia’s website.
For enquiries about incorporating a co-operative in Nova Scotia, contact the Registry of Joint Stock Companies at 1-800-225-8227 or email rjsc.coop@novascotia.ca.
Additional information is available from the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council.