Lacada Brewery Co-op: A Local Beacon in a Global Movement

At the recent Lacada AGM, we reflected on the International Year of Co-operatives and what it truly means to be part of a global movement with over one billion members. Yet, as we spoke of solidarity, self-help, and democratic ownership, I was reminded that the most inspiring example wasn’t on a global stage, it was right here in Portrush!

This special session, held as an add-on to the AGM and generously supported by the National Lottery Community Fund under the Awards for All NI programme, gave us space to explore the deeper meaning of co-operative values and their local impact.

Lacada Brewery Co-op has shown what a member-owned business can achieve when its community steps forward. After a few unsettled years, the members made a decisive move last year to reclaim the co-operative’s direction. The result? A surge of volunteering, participation, and renewed energy that now pulses through every part of the organisation.

We heard from Jack and Sam about exciting new brewing plans: diverse, bold, and rooted in local taste. The taproom, once just a place to enjoy a pint, has evolved into a vibrant community hub. It is not just about beer anymore but it is about belonging.

Lacada is more than a brewery. It is a lived expression of co-operative values: solidarity, mutual aid, and democratic control. It reminds us that when people come together with shared purpose, they can not only weather storms but reshape their future.

In a world where co-operatives span continents and industries, Lacada stands out as a shining local example. And for Lacada’s members and community, the best co-operative in the world is right here in Portrush.