This letter from the CEO comes from the fall issue of Seward Co-op’s quarterly newsletter publication Sprout! Read our newest issue to learn about products, upcoming events, and co-op staff.
Dear Seward Co-op owners,
Fall is approaching and our autumn calendars are filling up here at Seward Co-op with events like the annual board of directors election, the SEED Community Choice vote, and our Annual Owner Meeting.
On top of that, the Deli is busy prepping for a special Hot Bar menu this Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Oct. 12, that will feature recipes from Indígena by Owamni chef Sean Sherman’s cookbook. Harvest catering is also right around the corner, with pre-orders starting on Nov. 1. Huge kudos to the Deli & Bakery team for all their hard work creating delicious and nourishing meals for us throughout the fall months!
As you read this, we just finished negotiations and ratified a fourth successive Collective Bargaining Agreement with our local union, UFCW 663. This process really shows me how deeply Seward Co-op staff cares about their workplace and one another. Collaborating to make our co-op an even better place to work and a viable business reflects our strong values and is so rewarding. I’m appreciative of the bargaining unit members and Seward Co-op management team for their joint effort during these sessions.
2027 marks our 55th year as a cooperative business, and we have exciting financial opportunities to look forward to. While the grocery industry remains volatile, and large corporations eschew people in favor of profit, I firmly believe co-ops are a place where your grocery dollars make a real impact on local communities, producers, staff, non-profits, and the environment. Seward Co-op is not only a place to live your values, but we also offer thoughtfully-sourced food, a unique shopping experience, and value-driven deals every day.
Seward Co-op strives to do right by our communities, but we must go beyond simply saying that. Being able to back up the talk with numbers means we can point to actual outcomes of the work we do, and you support that by shopping here. This information and data—such as what percentage of our sales come from Community Foods producers and how long staff stay at the coop (almost half have been here for over five years!)—is compiled into our Scorecard & Annual Report, which highlights the financial and social performance from the previous fiscal year. I encourage you to look at the eye-catching print booklet and the expanded interactive online version at or after our Annual Owner Meeting on Oct. 26 when it’s released.
For even more on what’s happening this season at Seward Co-op, be sure to check out our fall edition of Sprout!
In cooperation,
Raynardo Williams, Chief Executive Officer
Changes are coming to the low-potency hemp-derived cannabinoid market, including products that contain THC and CBD. We’re keeping a close eye on what’s happening in Congress, with hope that they will either revise or reverse an action they took last year to ban these products across the country. However, unless there is a significant change to the law, most hemp-derived cannabinoid products will no longer be available later this year.
Ready for a new way to score great deals? Every week starting in early October, you’ll be able to use the Co+op Deals app to find an assortment of sales unique to Seward Co-op. Download the app, browse these promotions as they come, and enjoy the extra savings.
In January 2027, Seward Co-op will be holding an Owner Drive to recruit new owners and raise awareness about the benefits of co-op ownership. We want to remind people that being an owner is a vital part of what makes the cooperative model so special. Look forward to exciting incentives for new owners, and lots of appreciation for current ones.
