Trends, themes, and future perspectives for food cooperatives: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose This study explores the academic discourse on food cooperatives, which have emerged as alternative models to conventional food systems in response to sustainability, food insecurity and social equity challenges, and are embedded within broader operations management issues. Despite growing attention, the field remains fragmented and lacks a structured overview of its evolution. Design/methodology/approach A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 98 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from the Web of Science. Using BibExcel, Gephi and Biblioshiny, this study analyzed publication trends, co-citation networks, and thematic clusters to map the intellectual structure of the field and identify research gaps. Findings The analysis reveals seven thematic clusters: alternative food networks and access to healthy food; governance and organizational performance; financial viability and market orientation; reputation, governance and sustainability; ethics and urban food justice; innovation and sustainable practices; and organizational resilience and problem-solving. Mapping these clusters by thematic maturity highlights both consolidated and emerging areas of research. Building on these results, a diagnostic and maturity framework is proposed to assess cooperative governance, sustainability and innovation practices. Research limitations/implications The thematic mapping and diagnostic framework support targeted research agendas and offer actionable insights for assessing cooperative maturity and performance. However, the study only used one database and English-language publications, which may limit result applicability. Originality/value This study offers a dual contribution by linking co-citation clusters with thematic maturity through strategic diagram analysis and by translating these insights into a practical diagnostic framework.