Stronger Together:

Balancing Autonomy and Collective Power

In the ever-evolving retail food industry, thriving – and surviving – requires a strategic balance between collaborating nationally, co-op to co-op, and preserving local identity. This year’s Co+op Cafes will explore how cooperation and alignment among food co-ops contributes to a healthier, more competitive, and sustainable food system—without losing the unique qualities that make each co-op special.

Together, we will:

Consider your co-op’s secret sauce: What gives your co-op its local flavor? What helps you feel like you belong?
Explore the tension of evolving while maintaining local character.
Practice navigating differing views: How can we hold space for tension while also leading cooperatively? How can conflict be generative and transformative?
Understand the advantages of scale: Learn why larger entities find it easier to achieve long-term financial sustainability in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Through engaging presentations from local leaders and National Co+op Grocers (NCG) and thought-provoking discussions and activities, we’ll challenge assumptions, explore difficult trade-offs, and strengthen our ability to cooperate—so that our co-ops remain both locally rooted and financially resilient.

The Co-op Cafe is made possible by support from National Co+op Grocers.

Interested in hosting a Cafe in your area?

Contact Hether: hetherjonna@columinate.coop

September 27, 2025 — In-person Co-op Cafe

International Civil Rights Center & Museum – Greensboro, NC

Time: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm ET

Facilitated by: Allanah Hines and Jade Barker

$50 to attend per person

Discounts available for groups:

Bringing a Group? Register five or more people from your co-op and get 20% off your entire order!

Staff are welcome to join the Co-op Cafe! Use the Promotional Code STAFFWELCOME to receive 1 free staff registration on your order.

Applies on orders of 2 or more only.

Optional Add-on:

Guided tour of museum available following the end of the cafe (60-75 min in length).
$20 additional cost, passed onto the museum and you can add this item during the registration process.
Please Note: Discounts do NOT apply to the tour