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.