Co-op History - Davis Food Co-op

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 • First frozen food case installed • First vote on moving into empty Safeway store on G Street; move is defeated
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 • Difficult cashflow problems for Co-op during the summers
1987, 1988	• Turnaround in pricing structure, work requirement and marketing begins period of rapid growth • Consumers Cooperative of Berkeley ("Berkeley Co-op") closes remaining stores and files for bankruptcy
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

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.