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

Greensboro, NC – International Civil Rights Center & Museum
Time: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm ET

Facilitated by: Allanah Hines and Jade Barker

$70 to attend per person – includes guided tour of museum with the cafe

breakfast and lunch provided with your registration

Scholarships available – email Hether Jonna for more information – hetherjonna@columinate.coop

Discounts available for groups:

Bringing a Group? Register five or more people from your co-op and get 20% off your entire order! Please note that you need to register the group as one transaction and use promotional code CafeGrp20 at checkout to receive the discount.

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.