His family’s stores also introduced him to the meaning of ownership and integrity when running a business. “I have a focus on ensuring the right people are in the right positions. Team building is my expertise and the most important one in any operation.”

As the cooperative grocery industry continues to grow, many stores are looking at hybrid models: a mixture of natural foods and conventional grocery. New Columinate consultant Andre Chavez has so much operational experience in both natural and conventional grocery that he could be considered a hybrid unto himself.

“I have been in grocery retail 46 years, 20 of them in the natural/organic sector,” says Chavez. “I was ten years old when my father opened a small market, and through the years we managed to open and operate three conventional stores, with a focus on local, fresh meat, and produce.”

Chavez took his early exposure to the world of retail and grocery and has built a decades-long career on operational excellence and strong financial management. Growing up in the grocery store gave him the opportunity to understand the nuts and bolts of the business. His family’s stores also introduced him to the meaning of ownership and integrity when running a business. Those traits would ring true again decades later, when he began working in cooperative grocers.

In 2022, Chavez began as general manager for Los Alamos Cooperative Market in New Mexico. He felt immediately comfortable in the co-op, having previous experience taking ownership of projects and initiatives and being invested in their success.

“I want to help many co-ops, because I am very familiar with the challenges operating independent stores and competing with the giants. To me, having our family businesses is the same as a general manager’s role, and that helps me successfully develop new GMs from an ownership perspective.”

Long before Los Alamos, Chavez learned the conventional grocery business working for chains such as Smiths, Albertsons, and Tom Thumb. Working in a variety of positions helped Chavez develop a strong understanding of operations and financial management.

Chavez maintained a connection to his family business throughout his growing career. When his father sold the family business in 2004, Chavez moved to Phoenix and crossed over to natural foods for the first time, working for Wild Oats. He also spent time with Sunflower Farmers Market, which merged with Sprouts in 2012.

“During my time with Sunflower Farmers Market, I was named Store Director of the Year and held the highest operations audit score and best store conditions within the 45-store chain. I was also responsible for training all new and existing store directors within the company. My store was named “Best Grocery Store” in the Best of City magazine in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for four years in a row.”

After Sunflower, Chavez became operations director for New Leaf Community Markets in the San Francisco Bay Area. He standardized operations by implementing procedures and producing a complete Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual for the company. His focus on strong operations led to double-digit sales increases and profitability that surpassed the annual budget each year. Then, in 2015, he was hired by Fresh Thyme Farmers Market in Chicago to be their director of operations. There, Chavez opened six stores and was able to improve store conditions, increase sales, and boost profitability in the seven existing stores in the network as well.

Chavez is extremely excited to join Columinate and bring his wealth of experience and success to co-ops looking to improve core operations and financial performance. “As a Columinate consultant, I will focus on store conditions and implement tools and programs that managers can develop for success. That includes merchandising, inventory levels, shrink control, margin, and expenses. I will also have a focus on ensuring the right people are in the right positions. Team building is my expertise and the most important one in any operation.”

Strong grocery basics translate to both natural and conventional stores and help to deliver the financial performance that co-ops need to survive in a competitive marketplace. Chavez is excited to bring his unique experiences and success to each consulting engagement.

“I come from a small community, so I understand the importance of supporting local, small businesses and farmers. I am a people person with an outgoing personality. I focus on building relationships with clerks, the board, vendors, farmers, and the customers. I am passionate about healthy foods and educating customers and members that eating healthy is also a lifestyle.”

Chavez is excited for the new challenges that lie ahead in helping co-ops reach their goals.  Each co-op is an opportunity to meet new people and a new community and help them through the challenges they face. When you’ve spent more of your life working in grocery stores than not, that results-driven attitude is second nature. “Nothing makes me happier than to support, develop, and steer co-ops in the right direction.”

Conventional and natural, merchandising and budgeting, culture and inventory management. Andre Chavez has the tools and experience to be a true hybrid for co-ops.