Started in a Davis living room in 1972, the Davis Food Co-op has grown into a full-service food cooperative owned and operated by over 9,000 local households. We've operated at 620 G Street since March of 1984.
For more Co-op history, please scroll down.
1972 |
Founded as buying club by Davis residents and UCD students |
1976 |
Opened first store on L Street between 4th and 5th |
1978 |
Moved to store on 5th Street, at L |
1979 |
Beginning of effort to incorporate |
1981 |
• Finished incorporation as Davis Food Co-op, Inc., a California cooperative |
1983 |
Second vote on moving to G Street; move is victorious |
1984 |
Co-op moves to 620 G Street in March (more on the history of the building here) |
1985, 1986 |
• Most other tenants at 620 G Street fail |
1987, 1988 |
• Turnaround in pricing structure, work requirement and marketing begins period of rapid growth |
1990 |
Co-op buys building at 620 G Street from Safeway |
1992 |
Extensive interior remodeling |
1993 |
Members vote against proposal to open a second store in Davis at “Farmtown Shopping Center” |
1997 |
Extensive interior and exterior remodeling, as last tenant leaves |
2000 |
Co-op buys building at 537 G/617 7th for office or service expansion |
2002 |
Share equity from members tops $1 Million |
2004 |
First payment of patronage dividend to shareholders |
2005 |
First contact with Sutti & Associates; their opinion is that physical expansion is not necessary to increase sales & goods offered |
2007 |
Members vote in favor of loan proposal to renovate store |
2010 |
Installation of cash register system marks conclusion of renovation as described in 2007 |
2010, 2012 |
Competitors opening a mile and a half-mile from our location flatten sales versus same period in previous year |
2014 |
• Store is updated with energy-efficient beer coolers. • Patio seating area is increased by 20% • Regular pay raises for employees are reestablished after a three-year pay freeze • Grocery added a selection of artisanal and organic liquors and home-brewing supplies. |
2015 |
• Grocery and Wellness aisles are reset • Meat Department is upgraded with a brand-new, energy-saving meat case. |
2016 |
• Added eco-savvy LED lights to our registers for a smoother check-out experience • Patronage Refund distributed to shareholders |
2017 |
• Completed phase one of sustainable landscape through Whole Systems. • Received Certification for “OWL WISE LEADER” by not using rat poison in the store • Patronage Refund distributed to shareholders • Invited consultants to review Center store makeover |
2018 |
• Partnered with UC Davis Food and Veggie Up to provide food for Food Pantry • Conducted exit surveys and held focus groups about store • Presented findings of shopper survey to board and received approval to complete a store makeover • Utilized Pacific Craft Builders for construction and Indigo Architects for design • Updated Produce department by removing old cases, upgraded wet rack to be more energy efficient • Moved bulk to the front and center of the store, moved wellness where old bulk section used to be • Completed phase two of sustainable landscape in the Teaching Kitchen • Makeover project started June 2018 |
2019 |
• LED lighting upgrade completed. Business being run by 100% renewable energy through Valley Clean Energy, • Center-store makeover ended January 2019 • Added Customer service counter and Wellness counter • Meat department updated with new “reduced oxygen packaging” • Completed Information Technology infrastructure update in the store
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This history of the Davis Food Co-op for the years 1972 to 1984, titled Looking Back, is from articles by member and former newsletter editor Chris Laning. It is reprinted from the Davis Co-op News.