Medford Food Co-op

What Medford Food Co-op does

Medford Food Co-op is a community-owned cooperative grocery store and café operating a single retail location at 945 S Riverside Ave, Medford, Oregon. The Co-op sells organic, natural, and locally sourced products — with an explicit focus on items produced within 100 miles of Medford — alongside a bulk food department and an on-site café offering prepared foods and Sunday brunch. The store is open daily (8am–9pm) and the café operates Monday–Friday plus Sunday brunch. It is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors (Board President: Kellie Hill) under a policy governance model, with Anne Carter serving as General Manager and 11–50 staff executing operations.

The Co-op serves three distinct customer segments: the general Rogue Valley community (anyone can shop), owner-members who purchase a cooperative share in exchange for discounts, voting rights, and patronage dividends in profitable years, and SNAP/EBT recipients who access fresh produce through the Double Up Food Bucks matching program. Revenue is generated from three streams: grocery retail sales, café food and beverage sales (both transaction-based), and recurring owner-membership share purchases (subscription). The business also operates an online ordering channel for in-store pickup via its Squarespace-hosted website and publishes a quarterly Fresh Press email newsletter. There is no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capability; the website and basic digital tools are the entire technology footprint.

Community impact is structurally embedded in the operating model: the Positive Change program selects monthly nonprofit recipients for in-store fundraising, the Cooperative Community Fund channels additional grants, and the Co-op donated approximately 26,181 pounds of food to the Medford Gospel Mission in 2020. Local sourcing is institutionalized through the Eat-Buy-Love Local program, with $1.1 million in local food sales in 2020 representing 22% of total sales and an 80.7% year-over-year increase. The Co-op is currently pursuing a proposed store expansion, with the Board engaging owners via 'Chat with the Board' events to socialize plans.

Name

Medford Food Co-op

Legal name

Medford Food Co-op

Website

https://medfordfood.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Medford Food Co-op is a community-owned cooperative grocery store and café in Medford, Oregon, selling organic, natural, and locally sourced products within 100 miles to Rogue Valley residents through retail sales, a café, and optional owner memberships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural and Organic Grocery Retail

NAICS

Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Retail-Grocery Stores (5411)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAHALAA

Member-Owned Food Cooperatives

Consumer Products & Retail/Grocery & Food Retail/Food Co-ops & Community Grocery

Keywords

• Natural grocery retail
• Organic food store
• Café prepared foods
• Community cooperative ownership
• Local food sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Medford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Retail Grocery Sales: Revenue is generated from the sale of grocery products including natural foods, organic produce, local products, and general merchandise. The store operates as a full-service grocery with a focus on local and organic products sourced within 100 miles of Medford.
2. Café Sales: The Co-op operates a café offering food service including Sunday brunch, with revenues from food and beverage sales. The café also hosts special events and fundraisers.
3. Owner Membership Shares: Community members can purchase co-op ownership shares. Owner shares are described as a low-cost way for the Co-op to build capital and maintain growth. Owner benefits include discounts and patronage dividends in profitable years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Medford Food Co-op operates a community-owned natural grocery store and on-site café in Medford, Oregon, retailing organic produce, dairy, eggs, meat, packaged goods, and bulk pantry staples with an emphasis on products sourced from within 100 miles. The cooperative also offers online ordering for pickup, an on-site café serving prepared foods and Sunday brunch, and community programs including Double Up Food Bucks SNAP matching and Positive Change grants.

Product overview

Medford Food Co-op is a community-owned grocery store and café operating in Medford, Oregon. The core offering consists of the natural grocery store with local sourcing, combined with an on-site café serving prepared foods and Sunday brunch. The Co-op operates online ordering for customer convenience. Additional programs include the Double Up Food Bucks SNAP incentive program, the Eat-Buy-Love Local sourcing initiative for products within 100 miles, the Positive Change community giving program with monthly recipient grants, and the Cooperative Community Fund for broader non-profit support. A bulk food department offers reduced-packaging purchasing options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medford Food Co-op Grocery Store Full-service natural grocery store offering organic produce, dairy, eggs, meat, packaged goods, and bulk pantry staples with a focus on products sourced within 100 miles of Medford. Open daily 8am to 9pm and available to all community members.
• The Café On-site café offering prepared foods, coffee, and Sunday brunch service. The café also hosts fundraisers and special events tied to community initiatives. Hours: Monday–Friday 8am to 6pm; Sunday Brunch 10am to 2pm.
• Online Ordering E-commerce platform allowing customers to order groceries online for pickup at the Medford retail location.
• Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) SNAP nutrition incentive program providing a dollar-for-dollar match on fresh produce purchases with EBT cards, up to $20 per visit, enabling food-insecure households to access more fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Eat-Buy-Love Local Program Local sourcing program identifying products from farms and producers within 100 miles of Medford, Oregon, marked with a blue Eat-Buy-Love Local logo. Local product sales reached $1.1 million in 2020, representing 22% of total sales.
• Positive Change Program Community giving program where the Co-op selects monthly nonprofit recipients to receive additional grants funded through in-store customer donations, with staff and owner involvement in the application process.
• Bulk Food Department

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.1 million in local food sales (2020)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rogue Valley Food System NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizes the annual Rogue Valley Farm Tour with Ashland Food Co-op and the Rogue Valley Food System Network. This partnership showcases local farms and strengthens the regional food system by connecting consumers directly with farmers and producers in the Rogue Valley.
• Ashland Food Co-opcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Ashland Food Co-op to co-organize the annual Rogue Valley Farm Tour. Both cooperatives collaborate to promote local agriculture and food systems in the Rogue Valley region of Southern Oregon.
• Oregon Food BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartners with Oregon Food Bank on the Double Up Food Bucks Oregon Grocery Pilot Program. The $1.5 million state-funded initiative matches SNAP benefits dollar-for-dollar for fresh produce purchases, expanding the program from farmers markets to grocery stores for the first time.
• Farmers Market FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative partner in the Double Up Food Bucks Oregon Grocery Pilot Program. Farmers Market Fund brings expertise in nutrition incentive programs that have been active at farmers markets since 2015.
• Oregon Farmers Markets AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative partner in the Double Up Food Bucks Oregon Grocery Pilot Program, bringing expertise from farmer's market nutrition incentive programs.
• Portland CSA CoalitionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative partner in the Double Up Food Bucks Oregon Grocery Pilot Program, contributing expertise in community-supported agriculture.
• Medford Gospel MissioncoreOthersRegular food donation recipient. In 2020, the Co-op donated approximately 26,181 pounds of food including organic produce, dairy, eggs, and meat to support the Main Ingredient Restaurant which provides free meals seven days a week.
• Judi's Midnight DinerminorOthersVolunteer-led effort providing safe space and food/water for people in need. MFC supports their efforts with quarterly donations based on current needs.
• Rogue Food UnitesminorOthersJune 2026 Positive Change recipient. Organization nourishes the community with free organic produce each week. MFC's Positive Change program raises funds through in-store donations.
• Community WorksminorOthersJuly 2026 Positive Change recipient. Community organization supported through MFC's Positive Change program and in-store fundraising efforts.
• Medford PrideminorOthersAnnual Pride Month fundraiser recipient. The Café donates 100% of proceeds from Rainbow Sprinkle Sugar Cookies to support the local LGBTQIA+ community event.
• BASE Southern OregonminorOthersBlack History Month fundraiser recipient (2024, 2025, 2026). Organization builds an inclusive community and combats structural racism. MFC donates sales proceeds to support their work.
• UneteminorOthersLatino/a/x Heritage Month fundraiser beneficiary (2024, 2025). Organization supports local farm workers and immigrants. MFC Café offers special menu items with proceeds donated.
• Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters MarketminorOthersMarch 2024 Positive Change recipient. Local farmers market organization supported through MFC's monthly tabling and fundraising program.
• Cooperative Community FundcoreOthersMFC participates in the Cooperative Community Fund, which grows cooperatives across the country and gives back to local non-profits through the Positive Change program. The Board selects one recipient each year for an additional grant.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ashland Food Co-op: The closest peer: a member-owned community grocery co-op serving a neighboring Southern Oregon town (Ashland, OR), with the same organic/local sourcing ethos and café model, and a documented partnership with Medford Food Co-op on the annual Rogue Valley Farm Tour.
• PCC Community Markets: One of the largest community-owned food co-ops in the U.S., headquartered in Seattle, operating 15+ stores with a strong organic/local sourcing and community-impact identity that closely mirrors Medford Food Co-op's positioning—just at materially greater scale.
• Seward Co-op: A Minneapolis-area consumer-owned grocery co-op with multiple locations, a café/foodservice component, local sourcing commitments, and member-driven community giving—directly comparable in cooperative governance and community-ownership model to Medford Food Co-op.
• Willy Street Co-op: A multi-store member-owned grocery co-op in Madison, WI, focused on natural/organic, local producers, in-store prepared foods, and community impact programming, with a customer-owner capital model analogous to Medford Food Co-op.
• Bi-Rite Market: An independent community-focused San Francisco grocer with strong local sourcing, an in-store café, and high community engagement that closely parallels Medford Food Co-op's hybrid grocery/café/community model.
• Hunger Mountain Co-op: A Vermont-based member-owned cooperative grocery store featuring local and organic products, prepared foods, and community-giving programs—a structurally near-twin peer to Medford Food Co-op in size and governance.
• Weaver Street Market: A North Carolina-based consumer-owned cooperative grocery with multiple locations, in-store cafés, and a strong local-producer focus, providing a directly comparable community-cooperative operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Natural Grocers: A publicly traded natural/organic grocery chain that competes for the same health-conscious shopper on selection, pricing, and scale—a relevant broad-incumbent comparison set for Medford Food Co-op's premium-organic positioning.
• Market of Choice: A privately held Oregon-based regional natural-foods grocer with cafés and an organic/local emphasis; the closest scaled private competitor to Medford Food Co-op operating in adjacent Oregon markets.
• New Seasons Market: A Pacific Northwest specialty grocer (now operated by New Seasons/Good Food Holdings) focused on local, organic, and natural foods with prepared-food service—comparable in assortment philosophy to Medford Food Co-op but at chain scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MedfordFoodCoop
• Facebookfacebook.com/MedfordFoodCoop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Medford Food Co-op