St. Paul, Minnesota — May 6, 2026 — The Independent Natural Food Retailers Association (INFRA) has surpassed 400 member stores serving over 650 communities nationwide. This marks a significant milestone in the association’s growth, as it reached $3.4 billion in representative sales in 2025 and continues to lead the natural channel in dollar sales growth (+8% YoY from 2024 to 2025). This achievement reflects the continued momentum behind independent natural food retail, and the growing value of cooperatives like INFRA in giving independents the purchasing power, operational excellence, and peer support they need to thrive.
“Growth like this matters,” President & CEO Pat Sheridan comments, “not because size alone is the goal, but because of what it enables. Every new member strengthens our collective buying power, expands our shared knowledge base, and amplifies our voice in the marketplace... In an industry that continues to evolve rapidly, INFRA Members are a part of something bigger.”
As INFRA grows, the organization is evolving how it supports members to ensure that scale translates into meaningful, day-to-day value. Central to that effort is the continued evolution of INFRA’s field support model, designed to provide deeper, more personalized and responsive guidance tailored to each retailer’s needs. Through this approach, INFRA is focused on ensuring every member has access to the people, insights, tools, and guidance that matter most to their business.
“At its core, this evolution is about connection,” says Sheridan, “because while scale matters, it only works if it’s paired with relevance. Our goal is to ensure that as INFRA grows, our support feels more personal, not less.”
Since its founding, INFRA has been committed to empowering independent natural food retailers through cooperative strength. This milestone marks meaningful progress towards INFRA’s goal of reaching 1,000 communities by 2028. By continuing to invest in the systems, tools, and people that support its members, INFRA is building a stronger, more scalable organization that can support members today and well into the future.
INFRA Chief of Member Operations (CMO), Danelle Dumais, adds “At the end of the day, INFRA is all about the passionate, independent business owners who dedicate themselves to providing healthy and natural foods to their communities. This kind of growth makes a real impact, not just for independent retailers, but for the countless shoppers and community members that rely on them. Together, we are transforming the food system through cooperative strength, shared values, and a commitment to doing business better.”
About INFRA
INFRA is a cooperative of independent natural food and wellness retailers serving hundreds of communities across the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. By offering retailers the purchasing power, operational excellence, and peer support they need to thrive in today’s competitive grocery landscape, INFRA empowers retailers to focus on what truly matters—making healthy, sustainable food accessible to all. As a Certified B Corporation, INFRA pledges to use business as a force for good. Learn more at naturalfoodretailers.com.
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