About National co+op grocers
National Co+op Grocers: Empowering Food Co-ops to Offer More Value to Shoppers Everywhere
National Co+op Grocers (NCG) is a business services cooperative for retail food co-ops located throughout the United States. Founded in 1999, NCG has grown to become a trusted partner for over 150 food co-ops, providing them with the resources and support they need to thrive in today's competitive marketplace.
At its core, NCG's mission is simple: to help food co-ops optimize their operational and marketing resources, strengthen their purchasing power, and offer more value to their shoppers. By pooling their resources together through NCG, these independent retailers are able to compete more effectively against larger grocery chains while still maintaining their unique identities and community-focused values.
One of the key ways that NCG supports its member co-ops is by leveraging its collective buying power. Through its extensive network of suppliers and distributors, NCG negotiates favorable pricing on everything from produce and dairy products to cleaning supplies and office equipment. This allows member co-ops to access high-quality products at lower prices than they would be able to secure on their own.
In addition to purchasing support, NCG also provides a range of other business services designed specifically for food co-ops. These include marketing assistance (such as social media management and email campaigns), financial management tools (such as accounting software), training programs (such as leadership development workshops), and much more.
Perhaps most importantly, however, NCG serves as a hub for collaboration among its member co-ops. By facilitating communication between retailers across the country, NCG helps foster innovation in areas such as product development, store design, customer service strategies, and sustainability initiatives.
For example:
• In recent years there has been an increased focus on reducing plastic waste in grocery stores across America. Many of our members have implemented innovative solutions such as offering reusable bags or encouraging customers bring back packaging materials like egg cartons or berry containers.
• Another area where our members have excelled is sourcing local produce from nearby farms which not only supports local agriculture but also reduces carbon footprint by reducing transportation costs.
• Our members are also committed towards providing healthy options like organic fruits & vegetables or gluten-free products that cater towards specific dietary needs of customers who may be allergic or intolerant towards certain ingredients.
Overall National Co+op Grocers plays an important role in supporting independent retailers who share common values around community engagement & sustainable practices while offering shoppers high-quality products at affordable prices.
If you're interested in learning more about how National Co+op Grocers can help your local food co-op thrive please visit our website at www.ncg.coop