The consumer cooperative structure in the country has four tiers, with the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India Limited (NCCF) at the national level. Thirty State Cooperative Consumers Organisations are affiliated to the NCCF. At the Central/Wholesale level, there are 800 Consumer Cooperative Stores. At the primary level, there are 25,759 primary stores. In the rural areas, there are about 44,418-village level Primary Agricultural Credit Societies and Marketing Societies undertaking the distribution of consumer goods along with their normal business. In the urban and semi-urban areas the consumer cooperative societies are operating about 37,226 retail outlets to meet the requirements of the consumers. The NCCF besides undertaking distribution of consumer articles, also has a Consultancy and Promotional Cell for strengthening consumer cooperative societies engaged in retailing activities. The NCCF with its Head Office at New Delhi has 32 branches/sub-branches located in various parts of the country. The sales turnover achieved by the NCCF during the year 2003-04 was Rs 626.11 crore as against the sales turnover of Rs 674.06 crore last year. It has earned a net profit of Rs 8.31 crore as against the profit of Rs 4.19 crore achieved during the previous year. The accumulated losses of the NCCF in 2003-04 were Rs 16.92 crore.

The government with the help of NCCF, launched the scheme called Sarvpriya in July 2000. The scheme envisages distribution of eleven selected commodities of daily use to the consumers through the existing PDS Retail Outlets and the Retail Outlets of the State Consumers' Cooperative Federations, State Civil Supplies Corporations and the Consumer Cooperative Societies in the States. The Scheme is voluntary involving no subsidy.