Community Food Co-op

Voted Bellingham's best grocery store. Full-service deli, hot bar, salad bar featuring organic, local, and natural foods. Everyone can shop, anyone can join. Co+op, stronger together.

Welcome! Everyone can shop the Community Food Co-op!
360-734-8158|
  • menu bar three linesMENU
    • Hours & Locations
      • forest-street-5138Downtown Store
        1220 North Forest Street at Holly Street
        Bellingham, Washington
        7 am - 10 pm
        360-734-8158
      • cordata-exterior-5245Cordata Store
        315 Westerly Road at Cordata Parkway
        Bellingham, Washington
        7 am - 9 pm
        360-734-8158
      • holly-street-5129Bakery Café
        405 Holly Street at Forest Street
        Bellingham, Washington
        7 am - 7 pm
        360-734-8158
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Classes & Events

  1. Let’s Make Mozzarella and Burrata! with Marisa Papetti

    February 16 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
  2. Fermentation: Winter and Beyond with Jennie Goforth

    February 18 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
  3. Tastes of Thailand with Robert Fong

    February 19 @ 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

View All Events

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Invest In Your Co-op!

food co-op investment shares

The Co-op Board of Directors approved a one-time-only extension for investment share purchases! Now available through April 14, 2019.

Thank you for your interest in Community Food Co-op Investment Shares. We are looking for Co-op member-owners who are ready to invest from $500 to $200,000 locally in their co-op.

Our goal is to raise $3 million in shares by April 14, 2019. With your support we can reach that goal.

As of December 30, we exceeded $1 million in invest shares.

Thoughts from a few of our investors—

“We shop at the Co-op regularly. We believe in the mission. The Co-op is an important part of our community and the Co-op supports many things about community.” –Pat and Gail

“We need strong, vibrant institutions. I am not investing only for a financial return; I am investing in the future of my community.” –Matteo

WHY INVEST IN THE CO-OP?

Reason #1: We want you to own the bakery building! The Co-op Corner at Holly and Forest streets, with the new bakery building and downtown store, has quickly become a cornerstone and welcoming icon to Downtown Bellingham. The Co-op received a 2018 City Center Award for the innovative renovation of the bakery building. The transformation of the building was magnificent, and we want Co-op member-owners to own this valuable asset, rather than the bank.

We want you to own the award-winning Co-op bakery building.

Reason #2: Your investment could earn more money than it would at a bank. The rate of return on your investment beats the interest paid by banks on savings accounts or CDs. Earn from 2.75% up to 5% on your investment! See the below table for more information about the rate of return.

Get a great return on your investment.

Reason #3: An overwhelming 97% of Co-op member-owners who voted in the March 2018 Board Election approved a proposal to change the Co-op’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, thereby making this investment opportunity possible.

Your fellow member-owners overwhelmingly approved this opportunity.

Reason #4: Cooperative Principle No. 3 is Member Economic Participation, and one of the unique characteristics of a co-op is the ability to raise capital from its member-owners.

Just as the Co-op invests in the local economy, our member-owners can invest in us!

outdoor seating at bakery cafe

HOW WILL THE MONEY BE USED?

The Co-op plans to use to proceeds of the investment shares to pay down debt associated with the purchase and remodel of the award-winning Co-op Bakery building on Holly Street. In practical terms, this makes it possible to pay investment share dividends to Co-op member-owner investors, rather than paying interest to an institutional lender (i.e., a credit union or bank).

Paying off debt on the Co-op’s most valuable asset strengthens the Co-op’s financial position.

WHAT RETURN COULD I GET ON MY INVESTMENT?

There are three classes of investment shares. Dividends will be paid annually, when declared by the Co-op Board of Directors.

ClassPrice per
Share
Dividend
Rate
Number of
years until
Redeemable
Minimum Purchase
 Class B$1002.75% 1$500
 Class C$5004% 4$2,500
 Class D$1,0005% 5$10,000

HOW TO INVEST

If you are interested in investing, request an Investment Shares packet via email at investment@communityfood.coop. The packet includes all the information you need to make your investment, including a Disclosure Statement and Share Purchase Agreement documents.

Thanks for considering investing in your co-op!

In cooperation,
Jon Edholm, Co-op Finance Manager and Adrienne Renz, Co-op General Manager

HOT OFF THE PRESS| THE CO-OP DIFFERENCE invest| investment| member| shares

Categories

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co-op staff stocking school break room table with snacks

Nominate a School for Snack Fest

Tell us why your school rocks, and we’ll select one of the nominated schools and fill its break room with goodies from the Co-op. Kids can nominate too!

A Guide to Winter Squash

Choosing a winter squash can be confounding. Use this helpful guide to winter squash and learn about some of the common varieties you’ll love, along with their attributes and best uses.

November Staff Pick and New Items

Check out Karl’s staff pick and see what’s new in the aisles at the Co-op! Healthy bone broth soups, carb-conscious baking mixes, and a little bubbly caffeinated drink.

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DOWNTOWN STORE & DELI • map • 360-734-8158 • 7 am – 10 pm
CO-OP BAKERY CAFÉ and CONNECTIONS BUILDING CLASSROOM • map • 360-734-8158 • Bakery Café: 7 am – 7 pm
CORDATA STORE & DELI and LOCAL ROOTS ROOM • map • 360-734-8158 • 7 am – 9 pm

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