Co-op News | Winter Quarterly 2026
An Update to How We Talk About Membership
Beginning in January, North Coast Co-op will begin using the term “owner” instead of “member” across signage and communications. This language change reflects what has always been true at the Co-op: purchasing a share means holding a real ownership stake in our community-owned grocery store.
The Co-op operates under the cooperative model, where people come together to collectively own and guide a business built to serve our community. Rather than belonging to a club or discount program, shareholding represents shared responsibility, shared benefit, and a long-term commitment to all things local.
Unlike conventional grocery stores owned by larger corporations or outside investors, our Co-op is democratically owned and locally rooted. There are no distant shareholders. Surplus revenue can be returned to owners through patronage refunds or reinvested in ways that support the long-term health of the Co-op. Major decisions are guided by our Board of Directors, who are elected by the ownership, with each owner holding one vote regardless of investment level.
This model has been at the heart of the Co-op since our humble beginnings as a volunteer-run food buying club in 1972. Today, the Co-op includes more than 22,000 owners and proudly employs a unionized workforce serving our community at two store locations. Owners can participate in governance by voting in board elections, running for the board, and attending meetings. The Board develops a five-year strategic plan with input from our owners.
This is a small shift in language, but it reflects something we are proud of: our Co-op is owned by the people who shop here. That ownership supports a business that keeps dollars local, strengthens our local food economy, and invests in the wellbeing of our community.
With this change, programs such as Member Appreciation Month and the Membership Drive will become Owner Appreciation Month and the Owner Drive, along with other related terms used throughout the Co-op. Benefits, share costs, and enrollment processes will remain unchanged.
As we begin a new year, we see this update as a natural step toward honoring the cooperative spirit that has carried the Co-op for over 50 years and reinforcing the connection between ownership, participation, and the community values that guide us.
