Dear IV Food Co-op Owners and Supporters,

Thank you for being an essential part of our cooperative community. For over 50 years, the Isla Vista Food Co-op has been more than a grocery store — it’s been a hub for locally-sourced food, sustainability, and connection. Together, we’ve built something truly special.

But today, our co-op faces an urgent challenge: Without immediate action, we risk running out of cash reserves by early 2025, forcing us to close our doors. Rising costs, stagnant sales, and increasing resource demands have brought us to this critical moment.

This is where you come in.

What Makes Us Different

Unlike corporate grocers, we uphold practices that align with our shared values:

  • Fairness for Vendors: We don’t charge slotting fees, enforce below-market pricing, or unfairly return unsold products.

  • Care for Employees: We provide health coverage, retirement plans, fair wages, paid vacation, and flexible schedules—not just the industry minimum.

  • Community First: We prioritize the well-being of our employees, local vendors, and the broader community over profit margins.

These principles reflect our Strategic Priorities:

  • Community Engagement & Advocacy: We create opportunities for education, connection, and collective action.

  • Healthy Food Access: We make nutritious, locally sourced food affordable and accessible for all.

  • Local Food System Support: By supporting local farmers and producers, we keep money in the community and strengthen our regional food system.

  • Environmental Stewardship: We minimize environmental impact through sustainable business practices, reducing food waste, and advocating for climate-conscious solutions.

Supporting the co-op means preserving these values and investing in a future where businesses operate with integrity and purpose.

How You Can Help Right Now

  • Shop at the Co-op: Choose us for your groceries—every purchase directly supports our mission. Shop at our Isla Vista or Downtown Market locations, or shop online!

  • Donate Today: Every dollar matters. Your contributions will help stabilize our cash flow during this critical time.

  • How You Can Help:
    ❤️ Donate via GoFundMe
    💻 Donate on Our Website

  • Spread the Word: Tell your friends and neighbors about the co-op and encourage them to contribute or join as a member-owner. Volunteer with our Ambassador Program.

  • Participate: Attend our upcoming events and fundraisers. Connect with other members and build momentum for change.

  • Stay Engaged: Keep your co-op equity active and complete our feedback survey to help shape the future of your co-op.

Our Plan to Secure the Co-op’s Future

We are taking bold, strategic steps to navigate this challenge:

  • Cutting Costs: Reducing non-essential operational expenses while maintaining the quality you trust.

  • Growing Revenue: Launching promotions, boosting sales, and expanding partnerships.

  • Securing Stability: Renegotiating debts and leases, reducing waste, and improving efficiency.

  • Building for the Future: We are creating a vision and strategic roadmap to enhance the value we provide to our community, adapt to its changing needs, and rebuild the community support that has always been the foundation of our success.

But these measures alone aren’t enough—your support is critical.

Our Goal: $25,000 a Week for the Next 8 Weeks

We need to raise $200,000 to pay vendors, meet operational expenses, and weather our slowest sales season of the year. When you contribute, you’re not just giving financially—you’re investing in your co-op, a community-driven grocery store that puts people, integrity, and purpose first.

Why Your Support Matters

Cooperatives are more than businesses—they are mutual aid organizations. Every dollar spent at the co-op strengthens our local economy—supporting local farmers, producers, employees, and neighbors while prioritizing community-focused values

Together, we make it possible.

Time is of the essence.

Please act today to secure the future of your co-op.
❤️ Donate via GoFundMe
💻 Donate on Our Website

Your generosity and belief in this community make all the difference. With your help, we can overcome this challenge and ensure the Isla Vista Food Co-op thrives for generations to come.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What caused this problem?
Inflation and local demographic shifts have led to a significant drop in sales and rising operational costs since 2023. These challenges have resulted in major losses, leaving the co-op without the cash needed to continue operations.

How has the Downtown Market affected the co-op overall?
In January 2024, the co-op expanded to a second location in downtown Santa Barbara by acquiring the lease for the old Cantwell’s and launching our Downtown Market. Since then, we’ve significantly increased its sales and expanded our impact in the greater Santa Barbara community. While this boosted revenue and gave us an extra year, sales in Isla Vista continue to decline, and the Downtown Market’s sales aren’t enough to offset that drop.

Is my equity payment safe?
Yes, your equity is secure. We have significant equity in the Isla Vista building, and if the co-op were to close, we would be able to repay all owners through the sale of this property. To safeguard our liquidity during the revitalization process, we’ve temporarily suspended equity redemptions until October 1, 2025.

What is the co-op doing to improve operations?
To reverse the downward trend of the past two years and avoid closure, we are launching a Revitalization Campaign focused on:

  • Increasing sales and community participation

  • Enhancing the quality of our operations

  • Reducing waste

  • Renegotiating debts

  • Cutting non-essential expenses

  • Developing a long-term strategic plan for resilience

What can people do to help the cooperative?

  • Shop at the Co-op: Every purchase directly supports our mission. Shop at our Isla Vista or Downtown Market locations, or shop online!

  • Donate Today: We need to raise $200,000 to stabilize cash flow and pay vendors.

    ❤️ Donate via GoFundMe
    💻 Donate on Our Website

  • Spread the Word: Tell others about the co-op, encourage membership, or join our Ambassador Program.

  • Participate: Attend events and fundraisers. Connect with other members and build momentum for change.

  • Stay Engaged: Keep your equity active and share your thoughts via our feedback survey.

Want more information, to share your ideas, or to get more involved? Board Meeting minutes and Annual Reports are available at https://www.islavistafood.coop/board-of-directors

Contact: board@islavistafood.coop