I believe the cooperative model has two purposes: an economic purpose and a social purpose. In economic development, it is very profitable, as you saw from the description of the movement as a whole, but it is also very profitable socially because it gives the community cohesion.
The cooperative model also helps support the efforts of people who otherwise could not be in a position to achieve positive results, be they minorities, immigrants or others. Moreover, that is why the cooperative model is often viewed as a tool for the poor, which I believe is a completely watered down perception; that isn't the true picture, but that is why it is viewed as such.