Ownership Price Increase FAQ
What is the ownership price increase?
Nearly 90% of Seward Co-op owners who participated in the 2025 Board of Directors election voted to increase the price of ownership from $75 to $99 for all current and future owners. This change helps ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the cooperative, along with sustaining the local food systems, staff wages, and small-scale businesses we support in the process.
Why is the increase $24?
When you become an owner of Seward Co-op, you purchase Class A stock in increments of $3. On Jan. 1, 2026, the stock requirement changed from $75 (twenty-five shares) to $99 (thirty-three shares) for all current and future ownerships. The difference is $24.
I am already an owner; does the increase apply to me?
Yes. The new ownership requirement — an additional $24 (eight shares) — applies to all owner accounts.
What are my options?
If your ownership was fully paid before Jan. 1, 2026, we encourage you to pay the additional $24 on the owner portal, in-store at checkout, or at a customer service kiosk.
If you are currently paying for your ownership in three installments, we encourage you to pay the additional $24 on the owner portal, in-store at checkout, or at a customer service kiosk after your three initial installment payments have been made.
If you have a needs-based ownership, no action is needed, though you always have the option to pay for the remainder of your ownership at checkout or at a customer service kiosk. Future patronage refunds will be applied to your owner account balance until the full $99 equity requirement is reached.
Will I lose my owner benefits if I do not pay the additional $24?
No. All owners will retain their owner benefits.
What happens if I don’t pay the additional $24 and a patronage refund is declared; will I still receive a patronage refund?
The co-op’s fiscal year ends on June 30. In profitable years, the board of directors may declare a patronage refund. Patronage refunds are distributed to owners proportionate to their shopping during the year. If a patronage refund is declared, all previously paid-in-full ownership accounts that have not paid the additional $24 prior to July 1 will be set to have future patronage refunds applied to their ownership as Class A shares in increments of $3 up to $24. Any patronage refund that exceeds the requirement will be distributed as normal. Any remaining unpaid balance can be paid after July 1 in-store at checkout or at a customer service kiosk.
By making your additional payment now, you help strengthen the business, support staff wages, benefit small producers, and uplift our local food system.
Click here to Make your additional payment on the owner portal