The State of the Co-op June 2026
Summer on the Oregon Coast is upon us, and the co-op is ready for another busy season ahead. As visitors arrive and our aisles get a little busier, it feels like a good time to share an update on the health of the business and how your co-op navigates an ever-changing grocery environment. After all, this is a business we own together!
Coming off very strong sales growth in 2025, our co-op—and most of our co-op peers across the country—are finding that sales growth is harder to achieve this year. Through the first part of 2026, Astoria Co+op sales are growing by approximately 3%, driven largely by strong growth in our prepared foods offerings while many other areas of the store are seeing flat or slightly declining sales.
Growth in a Challenging Environment
While 3% growth is positive, it comes at a time when operating costs continue to rise. Like households throughout our community, grocery stores are facing higher costs for goods, transportation, utilities, insurance, and labor. Fuel surcharges have begun appearing on many of the invoices we receive from suppliers, for example.
We continually balance these rising costs with our responsibility to provide strong value to our owners and shoppers. We know that many households continue to feel the pressure from food inflation. One strategy that supports our ability to remain competitive wherever possible is our partnership with a network of more than 169 food co-ops across the country. By working together, co-ops leverage greater purchasing power, develop promotional programs, and create product lines like Co+op Basics that provide additional value to owners and shoppers.
Co+op Basics is the co-op’s version of a private label program featuring some of the best everyday prices throughout the store. Look for the purple signs as you shop. Co+op Deals, Owners Save More discounts, Buy One Get One Free sales, Flash Sales, weekly e-coupons, and Fresh Fridays round out the ways your co-op is committed to providing meaningful ways to save. You can learn more about these programs on our website or by asking a friendly co-op staff member next time you shop.
Why Growth Matters
As grocery store operators, our team pays close attention to sales. All staff members watch sales weekly, daily, and sometimes even hourly. We get excited over busy days! Strong sales growth is often one of the clearest indicators that the co-op is healthy and serving the needs of our community.
Growth matters because it allows us to keep pace with the increasing costs of doing business while continuing to invest in the co-op’s future. Sales growth helps support competitive wages and benefits, build cash reserves, maintain and replace aging equipment, and fund new initiatives that improve the shopping experience.
The grocery business has always operated on thin margins. When momentum slows, generating the resources needed to reinvest in the business becomes more challenging. Continued growth helps ensure that Astoria Co+op remains financially strong and able to serve our community for years to come.
What Value Means at Your Co-op
At a recent board workshop, we discussed a simple but important question: What value does the co-op provide to its owners?
Part of that value is economic. Programs like Owners Save More and our various promotional offerings help owners stretch their grocery budgets. But we also discussed the many ways the co-op delivers value beyond price.
Owners consistently tell us they value high-quality products, access to local and unique items, knowledgeable and friendly staff, excellent service, and a safe and welcoming shopping environment. These things do not happen by accident. They require ongoing investment of time, money, and attention. This includes providing our staff with living wages, strong benefits, and a workplace where they are respected and supported.
We also invest in maintaining a clean, welcoming facility that reflects the pride our community takes in its co-op and serves as a gathering place on the North Coast. These investments contribute to the overall value owners receive every time they shop at the co-op, even if they are not always reflected in the lowest possible shelf price.
A Commitment to Quality
As part of our commitment to service, we have recently introduced a “Make It Right” approach throughout the store. Every staff member is empowered and encouraged to resolve issues quickly when something falls short of expectations.
If a piece of fruit disappoints once you get it home, a prepared food item is not what you expected, or an experience falls short of our standards, please let us know so we can offer a hassle-free refund or replacement. We want every shopper to feel confident choosing the co-op, knowing that we stand behind the products we sell and are committed to making things right when we miss the mark.
Thank You
We’ll continue our work to better define and communicate the value the co-op provides for our owners and community. Over time, owners will see updates to ownership materials and messaging that more clearly reflect our commitment to quality, service, community impact, and the overall ownership experience. And we’ll also keep finding new ways to help you save, from everyday values to special promotions throughout the year.
Thank you for being part of our co-op’s continued success. I look forward to saying hello the next time you shop.
In Cooperation,
Matt Stanley
General Manager
State of the Co-op June 2026
