The seasonal transition from summer to fall presents unique and exciting opportunities for the produce department. Maximize customer satisfaction by ensuring your produce merchandising takes full advantage of the abundant fall harvest.
Oktoberfest is a great opportunity to drive traffic into the store with promotions following Labor Day. These merchandising and promotional tips will help your co-op capitalize on this holiday celebrating Bavarian culture.
Get ready for fall! Parents know August through Labor Day is back-to-school season and they want to plan accordingly. Meanwhile, Halloween continues to evolve as preparations begin earlier and consumer behaviors change. SPINS offers tips to make the most of fall trends.
Providing thoughtful and/or direct responses when transgender, nonbinary or gender-expansive individuals are misgendered or deadnamed is crucial for fostering an inclusive and affirming environment. Driven by a fervent desire to provide support to frontline workers at co-ops, this article shares examples drawn from convenings of LGBTQIA+ cooperators attending affinity groups offered during NCG conferences in 2023.
Hiring and recruiting continue to be challenging, and simply posting an open position and waiting for candidates to apply is no longer a viable strategy in the current labor market. NCG has compiled several recommendations to help you build your applicant pool.
Co+nvergence is back in 2025! We are preparing to welcome co-op promotions liaisons, grocery and wellness staff to St. Paul for an exciting conference filled with opportunities for education, networking, inspiration. Find out what the buzz is about and why Co+nvergence is loved by your co-ops, NCG staff and the natural products industry.
When fresh departments shine, customers leave not just highly satisfied, but inspired. And that inspiration has a ripple effect.
Most NCG co-ops are great at supporting local farmers and suppliers, but how well are you sharing the love of local with your customers? We’ll look at some of the best ways to spotlight your local stories.
Lakewinds Food Co-op in Minnesota recently announced that it reached the significant milestone of awarding more than $1 million in grants through its donation program, the Lakewinds Organic Field Fund (LOFF).
Now’s the time to start planning your fall and winter holiday assortment and preparing a merchandising plan to maximize holiday sales at your co-op. Check out the festive offerings in NCG’s 2025 Winter Holiday Program and product recommendations from our category managers.
