A Letter from our CEO

Every cooperative is built from the ground up. The last year provided a foundation for strengthening our local food system and growing our co-op for years to come. Cooperatives are mutual self-help organizations, where people work together to meet their shared needs. We are a little different from the mutual aid efforts that sprang into action during Operation Metro Surge, but the principle of working together to accomplish a goal is shared. The big work of the co-op this year furthered our ability to build community and strengthen the local food system, meeting the need we all have for access to high-quality, nourishing food. 

collaborative resilience

The world around us seemed like it was crashing down last winter during Operation Metro Surge. As we moved through that intense time, it became clear that what it was really doing was laying bare the strength of our collective connection and our commitment to our friends and neighbors. I don’t want to diminish the very real pain inflicted on our community, with families torn apart and lives lost. But as I look ahead, I see the resilience we have built at the co-op for whatever challenges come next. From strengthened collaboration with hunger relief organizations, to strong protocols and practices in how we operate, to a clear, mission-driven mandate to respond to threats in our community, we have a strong foundation in place to build on. 

investing in the future for retail

Grocery stores are expensive to operate and maintain. The sheer volume of visits in a year, 1,049,265 in total, takes a real toll on the infrastructure. Last year we invested approximately $1.6 million in renovations and a generator at our Linden Hills location. We replaced aged equipment, right-sized departments, and created a more welcoming environment. Since its installation, the generator has already kept us operating through more than eight hours of power outages, and customers are sharing overwhelmingly positive feedback on the remodeled store. These investments set Linden Hills on a positive trajectory for years to come. 

a bright future for co-op partners warehouse 

Co-op Partners Warehouse (CPW), our organic produce distribution warehouse in Saint Paul that delivers to seven states, entered into a new long-term lease and completed infrastructure upgrades. These included new cooling units, repairs to aged flooring and walls, and the removal of equipment and infrastructure no longer in use. These investments came during a year in which CPW grew sales by 8.4%. Sales have only accelerated as our reputation for doing the basics well, like competitive pricing, produce quality, and great service, has grown. CPW is where our food system gets built from the ground up, connecting the farmers who grow our food with co-ops and grocers across the Upper Midwest. The future has never looked brighter at CPW. 

thank you for building a strong local system

I want to thank our owners for sticking with the co-op and demonstrating with your patronage that community foods are more important than ever. I want to thank our staff for showing up for our customers and each other through stress and uncertainty. I want to thank our board and co-op leadership for their commitment as the co-op pivoted from normal business operations to a deliberate focus on keeping our community safe. I want to thank the farmers, producers, and community partners who make up our food system and stood with us this year. 

looking ahead to 2027 and beyond

As we look ahead to the coming years, the co-op is well positioned for both uncertainty and opportunity. We are preparing for significant impacts to our operations and financial performance at our Lyndale location when Lyndale Avenue is under construction in the coming years. We’ll be counting on you to keep shopping Lyndale through it. Your patronage will carry that store through. We continue to be approached to open additional retail locations to meet community need, and we are well positioned to respond when the right opportunity presents itself. 

 I am happy to report that our co-op, your co-op, is strong, resilient, and prepared to keep building what’s next for our food system, from the ground up. 

Nick Seeberger
CEO, Twin Cities Co-op Partners