First Alternative Co-op

What First Alternative Co-op does

First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op is a member-owned cooperative retail grocer founded in 1970 in Corvallis, Oregon, by Oregon State University students and community members. It operates two retail locations — a North Store and a South Store — and serves over 15,500 owner-members plus the broader Corvallis and mid-Willamette community. The stores carry a full natural and organic assortment across categories including groceries, produce, deli, meat, beer and wine, bulk foods, cheese, wellness, and general mercantile, with a formal local-producer designation system used to highlight regional suppliers.

The business model is a consumer cooperative: shoppers may purchase a $70 fully refundable ownership share, which confers governance rights and access to member-only discounts, while non-members can also shop. Revenue is generated through standard grocery retail margins across the assortment, supplemented by member equity and patronage. Distribution and supplier relationships are differentiated: the co-op is affiliated with National Co-op Grocers for aggregated purchasing and co-op services, and partners directly with Organically Grown Company and other local/regional producers for organic and locally designated products. There is no public revenue disclosure.

Community and sustainability programming is a material part of the operating model. The co-op runs access initiatives including Food for All, Student Produce Tuesdays, and Double Up Food Bucks, and has invested in on-site sustainability infrastructure including solar arrays, LED lighting, and rainwater collection. In 2024 the co-op completed a rebuild and reopening of the South Store Annex, representing the most recent visible capital expansion. There is no evidence of AI/ML, data, or technology platforms underlying the operation; it is a traditional brick-and-mortar grocery co-op competing on member ownership, local sourcing, and community positioning.

Name

First Alternative Co-op

Legal name

First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op

Website

https://firstalt.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op is a member-owned cooperative grocer founded in 1970 in Corvallis, Oregon, operating two retail stores serving 15,500+ owner-members and the local community with natural and organic groceries, produce, deli, and wellness products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Grocery (Natural and Organic Foods)

NAICS

Specialty Food Retailers (4452), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Retail-Grocery Stores (5411), Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

Member-Owned Food Cooperatives (CRAHALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Natural & Organic Grocers (CRAHAEAB), Natural/Organic Food Co-ops & Community Natural Grocers (CRAHAEAJ), Food Co-ops with In-Store Prepared Foods & Deli (CRAHALAF), Food Co-ops with Online Ordering & Pickup/Delivery (CRAHALAH)

Keywords

• Retail grocery cooperative
• Natural and organic foods
• Local farm sourcing
• Community-owned grocery
• Prepared deli foods

Headquarters

HQ city

Corvallis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Grocery Sales: Primary revenue from selling groceries, produce, deli items, meat, dairy, wellness products, beer and wine, and mercantile items at retail prices. Revenue from in-store customer purchases is the main business model.
2. Owner Shares: One-time $70 payment for co-op ownership shares. Shares are fully refundable. Generates upfront capital and creates customer loyalty.
3. Gift Cards: Sale of gift cards ranging from $25-$500. Can be picked up in-store or mailed to recipients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

First Alternative Co-op is a member-owned grocery cooperative operating two full-service retail stores in Corvallis, Oregon. It sells natural, organic, and locally-sourced groceries including produce, bulk foods, deli and Co-op Kitchen prepared items, meat, cheese, beer and wine, wellness products, and mercantile goods, alongside owner-share memberships, gift cards, and community recycling services.

Product overview

First Alternative Co-op is a community-owned grocery cooperative operating two retail locations in Corvallis, Oregon. The company offers a unified retail grocery experience centered on natural, organic, and locally-sourced foods. The core product portfolio includes Grocery, Produce, Deli & Co-op Kitchen, Meat, Beer & Wine, Bulk Foods, Cheese, Wellness, and Mercantile departments. Ancillary offerings include Gift Cards and Owner Shares (membership program providing discounts and voting rights). The co-op operates a Recycling Center as a community service and provides online tools like Bulk Product Lookup. Educational publications include The Thymes Magazine (quarterly), The Scoop Newsletter (monthly), and Budget Bites (bi-monthly meal planning guides). Financial assistance programs include Double Up Food Bucks (SNAP matching), Food for All (low-income discount), and Beans for Bags (community donations). The co-op does not operate a software product with technical integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grocery Department
• Produce Department
• Deli & Co-op Kitchen
• Meat Department
• Beer & Wine Department
• Bulk Foods Department
• Cheese Department
• Wellness Department
• Mercantile Department
• Gift Cards
• Owner Shares (Membership)
• Recycling Center
• Bulk Product Lookup

Quantifiable outcome

• 110,400 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy supported through Pacific Power Blue Sky program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Block 15 BrewingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 June 2026Local craft brewery partnering for beer tasting events, such as the BBQ Block Party & Ballots celebration.
• Republic ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Republic Services to provide community recycling center at South Store location. Republic Services provides bins for commingled recycling and holds quarterly hazardous waste collection events. Contact: (541) 754-0444.
• Organically Grown CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary produce distributing partner that sources organic produce from sustainably farmed operations in the western US, Mexico, and other regions, complementing the co-op's direct relationships with Willamette Valley farmers.
• National Co-op GrocerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner organization supporting food cooperatives. Collaborates on inclusive trade initiatives to build partnerships with BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, and veteran-owned businesses. Provides educational resources on cooperative business model.
• Double Up Food Bucks OregonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSNAP matching program where customers receive $1 in Double Up Food Bucks for every $1 spent on fresh fruits and vegetables using their Oregon Trail Card, up to $20 per day.
• Linn-Benton NAACPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NAACP chapter receiving support through promotion, donations, event partnerships, and sponsorship funding. Created opportunities for community fundraising campaigns at the register.
• OSU NAACPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOregon State University NAACP chapter receiving support through promotion, donations, event partnerships, and sponsorship funding.
• St. Vincent de PaulminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStyrofoam recycling partner through which the Co-op recycles #6 styrofoam at the South Store location for a fee of $1.75/cubic foot.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Natural Grocers: Public specialty natural and organic grocery chain with broad geographic footprint. Overlaps in product mix (organic, local, wellness) but operates as a larger for-profit retailer without member-ownership structure.
• Whole Foods Market: Amazon-owned national natural and organic grocery chain. Overlaps in product mix and natural/organic positioning but operates at massive scale and competes for the same health-conscious consumer wallet.

Direct peers

• PCC Community Markets: Seattle-based member-owned food cooperative operating multiple stores focused on organic, local, and sustainable products. Highly comparable cooperative governance model, similar product mix, and similar member-discount structure.
• People's Food Co-op: Portland, Oregon food cooperative with two locations offering natural and organic groceries. Same Pacific Northwest footprint, cooperative ownership structure, and community-focused operating model.
• Boise Co-op: Idaho member-owned natural foods cooperative operating two retail locations. Highly comparable two-store cooperative model with similar local/organic product positioning.
• Davis Food Co-op: California college-town member-owned grocery cooperative. Comparable in size, member-driven governance, and emphasis on local, organic, and natural foods serving a university community.
• Ashland Food Co-op: Member-owned grocery cooperative in Ashland, Oregon with similar natural/organic focus, owner share membership, and local sourcing ethos. Comparable scale and value proposition.

Regional players

• New Seasons Market: Pacific Northwest specialty grocer emphasizing local, organic, and natural products. Strong regional overlap in product mix and customer values though operates as a private (not cooperative) for-profit business.
• Market of Choice: Oregon-based independent grocery chain with comparable focus on local, organic, and specialty products. Competes in the same Pacific Northwest geography with similar product positioning.

Others

• National Co-op Grocers: Cooperative support organization serving as a centralized buying and services partner for member food co-ops. First Alternative is an NCG affiliate, making this a critical ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/firstaltcoop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 First Alternative Co-op