Zentralverband deutscher Konsumgenossenschaften e.V. (ZdK)

The Central Association of German Consumer Cooperatives (ZdK, Zentralverband deutscher Konsumgenossenschaften e.V.) was founded in Dresden in 1903 (originally as the Central Union of German Consumer Associations); its headquarters has since been based in Hamburg. It is the specialist confederation for German consumer cooperatives and cooperative economic organisations dedicated to meeting members' basic living needs, with activities covering the supply of consumer goods, services and energy; it is itself a member of the German Cooperative and Raiffeisen Confederation (DGRV). It is one of the German cooperative organisations within the International Co-operative Alliance system.