February 2018

We take our commitment to sharing honest information seriously, so we don’t tailor our lists to make us look good and the information hasn’t been edited before publication to improve how we compare to other stores.

Co-op staff is on your team! We build strong relationships to get the best deals possible, and then we pass the savings on to you.

Every year we undertake the process of conducting a rigorous price comparison survey. In addition to providing interesting information and transparency to our
member-owners, these surveys are invaluable to the Co-op merchandising staff responsible for setting prices. It also helps us achieve our strategic goal for healthy food access.

the Co-op offers great value for the money you spend on high-quality food

For the second year in a row, the overall cost for a large group of identical products is lower at the Co-op than at three of our competitors. We’re proud to once again say that the Co-op offers great value for the money you spend on high-quality food and personal care products.

This was our most comprehensive survey in several years. Our starting point included a list of more than 500 grocery, produce, meat, and wellness products. The final number of products compared was determined by the competitor’s product selection. If it was on our list and the competitor sold it, it was included in the comparison. The product selection was not edited to improve how we compared. The number of identical products at each location ranged from 392 at Fred Meyer to 230 at Haggen, with Whole Foods falling in the middle.

Natural foods and wellness products have been the fastest growing segment of the grocery business for quite a few years now. Attracting and retaining natural food shoppers is the focus of every company in this intensely competitive industry. As a relatively small community-owned business, maintaining competitive prices with large chains has always been a challenge for the Co-op. I’m happy to report that we continue to rise to that challenge.

food may be our middle name, but community always comes first

We take very seriously our goal to make high-quality, nutritious, culturally appropriate, and affordable food accessible to all. Thank you for choosing to shop with us. At the Community Food Co-op, food may be our middle name, but community always comes first. We own it!

Smart Shopping at your Co-op explains how to maximize your shopping dollars and save even more money at the Co-op. If you have questions about these savings opportunities, just ask any Co-op staff. We’re always happy to help. Thanks for your support.

All stores had higher prices than the Co-op, when comparing store brands. At the Co-op these items are labeled as Co+op Basics.

Whole Foods (365 store brand): prices were 11.2% higher on 21 total common products
Haggen (O Organics store brand): prices were 5.9% higher on 14 total common products
Fred Meyer (Simple Truth store brand): prices were 11.3% higher on 23 total common products

All stores had higher prices than the Co-op in the wellness department.

Whole Foods: prices were 4.7% higher on 81 total common products
Haggen: prices were 10.5% higher on 77 total common products
Fred Meyer: prices were 3.5% higher on 200 total common products

Only Fred Meyer had lower prices than the Co-op in the produce department.

Whole Foods: prices were 1.3% higher on 99 total common products
Haggen: prices were 18% higher on 64 total common products
Fred Meyer: prices were 3.6% lower on 68 total common products

Once again, only Fred Meyer had lower prices than the Co-op in the grocery department.

Whole Foods: prices were 6% higher on 104 total common products
Haggen: prices were 3% higher on 78 total common products
Fred Meyer: prices were 2.9% lower on 111 total common products

All three stores had lower prices than the Co-op in the meat department. Due to the Co-op's stringent meat guarantee, it is problematic to even find meat products to compare, which explains the small sample sizes noted below. Chicken products comprise the majority of the comparisons, along with a few packaged items like Hempler's products. There really is no comparison on the quality of other meat products the Co-op carries, which are largely cooperatively farmed by regional producers and have a range of attributes including hormone- and antibiotic-free, Non-GMO certified, organic, humane certified, and more.

Whole Foods: prices were 8% lower on 22 total common products
Haggen: prices were 12.3% lower on 11 total common products
Fred Meyer: prices were 10.2% lower on 12 total common products