9 matchbox labels printed in 1969 for the Czechoslovak consumer cooperative chain Jednota. They advertise the goods and services that co-op members can recieve like fresh produce (1, and fresh and dried mushrooms 6), wine (8), nutricious foods (3), stores close to residential neighborhoods (2) and new locations (4), and co-op owned hotels and roadside bars for motoroturism(5, 7). The last label boasts 1,800,000 members of the co-op.
The matchboxes were produced by Solo Lipnik (now Morago AS Ltd) to be glued onto wooden matchboxzes, but collecting the designs was highly popular and there were many unions and clubs dedicated to collecting labels. These labels were designed by Jednota to promote the cooperative, but other designs were commissioned by various government and social organizations to promote public health and safety, agriculture, labor, and of course, matches.
In 1969, the Jednota co-op expanded into the tourism sector with TATRATOUR, a travel cooperative. Also in the 60s, Jednota exported honey, forest fruits, mushrooms, and snails to western Europe in order to have an account of foreign currency to import certain goods and industrial parts. However, many goods sold in Jednoka stores were domestic - local honey and fruits from the rural areas, and bread and pastries produced in Jednoka facilities (but production flucuated thanks to government interventions). By the 80s the co-op also expanded to include household goods, health and beauty items, and other non-grocery items as smaller specialty stores were overtaken by larger stores that sold a larger variety of items. (COOP Jednota still exists today in SL. source translated from Slovak. Translation notes welcome!)
