Our High Five!

Outpost Natural Foods is a catalyst for change - creating a just, vibrant, and equitable community, while leaving a better world for future generations.

We achieve this vision through these five actions:

Diverse and Thriving Co-op Markets

Outpost is a place of inclusion and our stores reflect the fabric of each neighborhood. People come to shop at Outpost from all points as they find the shopping environment appealing and friendly while the co-op meets their everyday needs with quality, fresh choices and carefully selected local, natural and organic products. Nearly three-quarters of total sales are made by owners, reflecting satisfaction with the co-op to meet their needs. We have risen above market challenges and have opened additional profitable store locations, increasing our cumulative net profit each year and returning some of that profit back to owners. And an active ownership is reflected in participation in the annual Board election.

Dynamic Regional Food Systems

In an industry that is becoming more and more homogenized on a global scale, Outpost is proud of the fact the we are on a first name basis with our local and regional growers and producers. We understand their stories and support their entrepreneurial spirit. This level of relationship building gives the co-op the opportunity to network and collaborate more, offering more affordable prices and greater product diversity to shoppers, as well as opening up our regional food shed to even greater prosperity. Overall regional sales represent nearly one-third of total sales. With total co-op sales hovering at just under $59 million dollars, close to $19 million dollars funnels back into our local urban and rural economies, creating jobs, and securing our regional food systems in times of change.

Sustainable & Principled Solutions

We believe climate change is real and is an imminent threat to our existence. Outpost is a market leader when it comes to sustainability and actively strives to reverse the course of climate change and our impact on the planet. Since we began keeping records in 2012, Outpost has made strides to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We produce nearly 10% of our own energy through solar panels at our Mequon store and offset 100% of the rest for the continued development of a sustainable energy infrastructure. Because organic agriculture has the ability to sequester carbon, we continue to support organic farmers. Total sales to organic products at the co-op is at 44%. At Outpost, we don’t greenwash our efforts and cherry pick those initiatives that will give us the big spotlight. We choose to walk the talk across all sectors of business. Because it is the right thing to do.

Strong Community Relationships

A healthy community makes us all resilient. As a values-driven business, when we share our prosperity, fellowship with our neighbors, and live our co-operative values, it has a positive ripple effect. We reach across divides great and small and lift each other up through volunteering and give back programs that reflect our values. With annual growth in giving, we haved reached nearly $150K in shopper contributions alone to fund our hunger relief give-back programs as well as other organizations focused on hunger relief and sustainable agriculture. Our honesty and transparency inspire others to follow suit as we steward ourselves, our relationships, our planet.

Amazing Workplaces

Shopping at Outpost is always a pleasant experience because the staff who serve our owners and shoppers feel a deep connection and loyalty to their co-workers and their employer. Nearly 70% of Outpost’s work force is full time, which includes almost 50% of union staff. Dedicated to Outpost's success, they are strongly suited to help shape and uphold the diverse progressive cooperative work culture they enjoy, including a livable wage with benefits. This level of satisfaction directly translates to how they view the co-op. Outpost employees consistently rate their overall work experience at the co-op in the top percentile (4.5+ out of 5) in annual employee surveys.