Customers Name Seven NCG Co-ops as their States’ Top Independent Grocers

Photo: Pexels

Originally Appeared in Presence Marketing News, February 2020
By Steven Hoffman

Using data from Yelp and Google Trends, market research firm 24/7 Tempo recently released a ranking of top supermarkets and grocery stores in each state. In seven U.S. states, customers ranked retail food co-ops, all members of the National Co+op Grocers Association (NCG), as their favorite independent grocery stores, reports the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA). “Unlike corporate grocery chains, food co-ops are totally independent and owned by the community members who shop there. Instead of focusing on investors, food co-ops focus on providing fresh, healthy food for shoppers, creating sustainable jobs for employees, building a strong regional food system for everyone, and giving back to their community,” said C.E. Pugh, CEO of NCG, told NCBA. “It’s no surprise that so many shoppers appreciate the value of their community-owned food co-op, but few industries are as competitive as the grocery business, so that makes us especially proud of our member co-ops achieving these hard-earned rankings. It’s a true testament to our co-ops working diligently to serve their members and communities, and toward the day when everyone has the fresh, healthy food they deserve,” she added. Customers voted the following seven retail food co-ops as their favorite independent grocery store. 

•           Alaska: Co-op Market Grocery & Deli, Fairbanks

•           Maine: Portland Food Co-op, Portland

•           Nevada: Great Basin Community Food Co-op, Reno

•           New Mexico: Mountain View Market, Las Cruces

•           North Carolina: Tidal Creek Cooperative Food Market, Wilmington

•           Tennessee: Three Rivers Market, Knoxville

•           Vermont: City Market/Onion River Co-op, Burlington