Blogs

Radish & Rye Food Hub: Expanding Quality Food Access with INFRA Everyday

By Madeleine Ware posted 11 days ago
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At Radish & Rye Food Hub, good food has always been about more than what’s on the shelf. Since opening in 2015, the store has built a loyal following in midtown Harrisburg, PA by offering local and organic groceries, globally inspired flavors, and fresh-made foods crafted in their on-site kitchen and bakery. But like many independent retailers, Radish & Rye has also had to navigate a growing challenge facing natural food stores everywhere: how do you keep high-quality food accessible as grocery costs continue to rise? For co-owner Julia James, INFRA Everyday became an important part of that answer. Since implementing the program, Radish & Rye ...
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INFRA Welcomes 13 New Members

By Madeleine Ware posted 14 days ago
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Real Goods Market & Eatery, AR. Founded 2018. Real Goods Market & Eatery was founded by the Hubbard family after years of health issues. Championing a wide selection of organic and natural foods, supplements, beauty products, and ready-made meals, Real Goods is proud to serve the Batesville, AR community. They also partner with several local farmers and makers to provide fresh and seasonal foods, gifts made by local artisans, and more. Find them online at realgoodsmarket.com , on Facebook at @Real Goods Market Eatery , and on Instagram at @realgoodsmarketeatery . Farm Stand in the Gorge, OR. Founded 2015. Farm Stand in the Gorge prioritizes ...
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From Supplements to Strategy: A Conference Session Guide for Wellness Managers

By Madeleine Ware posted 16 days ago
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Wellness Managers play a vital role in guiding customers through an increasingly complex wellness landscape, translating evolving trends, demystifying product claims, and delivering personalized, trusted recommendations that build lasting relationships. At this year’s INFRA Annual Conference, taking place July 13–16 in St. Paul, MN, we’ve curated a lineup of sessions designed to support Wellness Managers. Hear directly from brands making a difference, learn how to maneuver industry trends, and expand upon the wellness knowledge you bring to the store floor. Explore a couple of our top picks below! Women-Led Mushrooms, Direct Trade, and Regenerative Farming ...
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Evolving Our Approach to Member Support

By Madeleine Ware posted 16 days ago
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Pat Sheridan, INFRA President & CEO As INFRA continues to grow and evolve in service of independent natural food retailers, we are focused on ensuring that how we support our members keeps pace with your needs, your business, and the complexity of today’s retail landscape. Over the past year, we've taken a close look at how our teams work with members, identifying where we create momentum and where we can provide greater clarity, consistency, and impact. As a result, we are making several internal updates to our Member Success structure, effective immediately, to better support you and your store. These changes are intentional and member focused. ...
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INFRA Hits 400-Member Milestone, Strengthening Collective Power for Independent Retailers

By Madeleine Ware posted 23 days ago
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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 ...
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6 Months of The Good Collective: Building Member-Driven Momentum with INFRA’s Exclusive Brand

By Madeleine Ware posted 25 days ago
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We recently celebrated 6 months of INFRA’s exclusive wellness brand, The Good Collective. What started as an idea to give members a way to compete in private label, build healthy margins, and become wellness destinations in their communities, is beginning to take shape on over 200 member store shelves. It has been heartening to see how this exclusive brand built on the principles of cooperative success has truly been embraced by members. Read on for a quick summary of where this brand began, a recap of our early successes, and a sneak peek at what's coming next. Why create an exclusive wellness brand for independent retailers? Throughout the past several ...
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Spring 2026 Staff Celebrations & Anniversaries

By Madeleine Ware posted 04-23-2026
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Work Anniversaries Chris Krull, IT Support Specialist — 1 st anniversary Craig Claeys, Marketing Production Designer — 1 st anniversary Huck Brock, Developer — 1 st anniversary Cayce Huemiller , Promotional Programs Coordinator — 1 st anniversary Bekah Kropp, Promotional Programs Coordinator — 2 nd anniversary Gabe Glasco, Data Analyst — 2 nd anniversary Connor Ferris, Junior Developer — 2 nd anniversary Caleb Mingus, Promotional Programs Specialist — 2 nd anniversary ...
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Expand Your Skillset: A Conference Session Guide for General Managers

By Madeleine Ware posted 04-20-2026
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General Managers are the glue that holds a store together. Working at the intersection of logistics, people, and operations, it takes a lot of effort to ensure that everything is running smoothly. From merchandiser to planner to manager to problem solver, being a GM requires a professional tool belt equipped with a little bit of everything. At this year’s INFRA Annual Conference, taking place July 13-16 in St. Paul, MN, we’ve curated a range of sessions designed with GMs in mind—focused on honing in and growing your already expansive skillset. Check out a few of our top picks below! Reset to Real-Time: Mastering the Art of Continuous Department Evolution ...
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Inside Expo West 2026: Trends Shaping Independent Retail

By Madeleine Ware posted 04-01-2026
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In early March, INFRA staff traveled to sunny Anaheim, CA for a week of connection and exploration at Expo West 2026. Every year, we look forward to Expo not only for a valuable snapshot of where the natural foods industry is headed, but also for meaningful moments to connect with INFRA Members and trusted partners. This year’s event hosted more than 70,000 attendees and over 3,000 exhibitors, all excited to gather around what’s next in the world of natural foods. As always, our biggest highlight was connecting with members. INFRA’s breakfast and dinner events brought together over 95 INFRA Members for moments of networking, peer discussion, and a look at what’s ...
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B Corp at INFRA: Fostering A Whole Human Mindset

By Madeleine Ware posted 03-10-2026
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At INFRA, being B Corp Certified means putting people and community impact at the center of everything we do. During B Corp Month, we’re reflecting on how this commitment shows up in all aspects of our business—through benefits that support employee wellbeing, flexible schedules that encourage work-life balance, and a culture that values INFRA employees as whole people. It also extends beyond our walls, with giving initiatives, volunteer efforts, and partnerships that strengthen our involvement in the good food movement and uphold our mission of making sustainable food more accessible for all. Read on to hear from INFRA employees, and Director of People & ...
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B Corp at INFRA: A Culture of Sustainability & Circularity

By Madeleine Ware posted 03-09-2026
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Sustainability has always been a core tenet of INFRA’s model. As a cooperative at the center of independent business and natural foods, the retailers that make up our membership have always advocated for a food system that prioritizes soil health, promotes optimal nutrition, and protects our natural resources. As an organization, INFRA is leading the way when it comes to reimagining how businesses can create healthier communities, and a healthier planet. Why B Corp, And What Lies Ahead INFRA’s B Corp Certification was a natural step towards formalizing our commitment to using business as a force for good. B Lab’s certification standards require us to ...
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10 New Members Join INFRA's Cooperative

By Madeleine Ware posted 02-24-2026
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Akron Nutrition Center, Akron PA. Founded 1975. For more than 50 years, Akron Nutrition Center has been helping their community find clean, trusted natural food and wellness options so that they can live their best lives. With a focus on purity, potency, and transparency, Akron Nutrition Center’s extensive digital catalog of vitamins and supplements and flexible ecommerce options help customers feel connected and supported, whether they shop in-person or online. Find them online at akronnutrition.com and on Facebook at @AkronNutritionCenter . Allen’s Food Market, Bella Vista AR. Founded 1999. Allen’s Food Market is a full-service grocery store with ...
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Delivering Consistent Everyday Value: Sunflower Shoppe & INFRA Everyday

By Madeleine Ware posted 02-13-2026
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Sunflower Shoppe in Colleyville and Fort Worth, TX is a third-generation, family-owned natural food and wellness market that has been serving Dallas-Fort Worth area since its founding in 1970. With a focus on customer service and knowledgeable staff, Sunflower Shoppe continues its family legacy while helping their community members lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. Sunflower Shoppe became an INFRA Member in 2020, and has leveraged several INFRA programs, including the INFRA Everyday EDLP program. Compared to the previous year, the store has experienced 12% year-over-year growth within INFRA Everyday items, reflecting the program’s role in supporting consistent ...
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Indie Integrity: Fostering Trust & Growth in the Independent Sector

By Madeleine Ware posted 01-29-2026
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2025 was a year of transition for independent natural retailers. Despite economic uncertainty, pricing pressure, and supply consolidation, independents continued to outperform expectations. Not because they were leading the way in technology, cost-cutting measures, or high-margin categories, but because of their continued commitment to authenticity and trust. From Convenience to Personalized Touch A recent study from Swiftly shows that 80% of shoppers trust their neighborhood brick and mortar store more than national giants like Amazon or Walmart to offer fair, personalized deals. The reasons for this shift from convenience to more intentional and ...
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INFRA's Top 5 Wellness Trends for 2026

By Madeleine Ware posted 01-26-2026
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In recent years, wellness trends have been defined by hyper-personalization, an increased interest in clean label ingredients and transparency, and a focus on holistic whole-body health. As we move into 2026, INFRA is excited to partner with leading retail data provider SPINS to share our top 5 wellness trends for the year ahead. From stress management to performance nutrition to GLP-1 support—read on to learn how we expect the trends of recent years to evolve to meet a new moment in wellness. Solving for Stress & Mood Management Stress and mood management continue to be top of mind for many shoppers. Expect to see ingredients ...
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New Equal Exchange Everyday Coffee Line Offers Organic, Fair Trade, and at a Low Shelf Price

By Madeleine Ware posted 01-20-2026
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Partner Article Equal Exchange’s mission and products are changing the power dynamics in the food system, creating market access for small growers and the opportunity for consumers to purchase according to their values. Our model has long bucked the tunnel-vision trend of “maximizing profits.” Founded in 1986, Equal Exchange started with a bold vision: what if food could be ethically traded, in ways that create a closer connection between farmers and consumers, building an alternative supply chain rooted in honesty, fairness, and empowerment? With farmer co-ops at the heart of our model, we partner with values-based ...
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INFRA Members Gear Up for Another Year of Giving Back

By Madeleine Ware posted 01-19-2026
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The holidays are a time of joy, connection, and togetherness. For some, however, finances put extra pressure and strain on the holidays. During a time when everyone is feeling the squeeze of inflated prices and stagnant wages, independent retailers emerged to uplift their communities during the holiday season. Whether it be through round up at the register campaigns, donation drives to local food banks, or deep discounts on household staples, INFRA Members remain a solid foundation for their neighbors to rely on. Read on to learn more about how INFRA Members supported their communities this holiday season, and how they continue to promote food availability and ...
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Winter 2026 Staff Celebrations & Anniversaries

By Madeleine Ware posted 01-19-2026
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Work Anniversaries Shanoah Harren, BI Analyst — 1 st anniversary Jacob Nachel, Member Business Advisor — 1 st anniversary Bella Syslo, Marketing & Communications Specialist — 1 st anniversary Jen LaValley, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) —2 nd anniversary Nicholas Helms, CRM Application Developer — 3 rd anniversary Hope Tipton, Category Manager — 3 rd anniversary Courtney Worden, Promotional Systems Lead — 4 th anniversary Angela Bozo, Director of Member Programs — 4 th anniversary Kim Route, Category Manager — 4 th ...
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INFRA's 2025 Recapped

By Madeleine Ware posted 01-19-2026
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2025 marked 20 years of empowering independent natural food retailers to do what they do best—provide healthy, sustainable foods to their communities. In addition to a successful INFRA Annual Conference with the largest attendance to date, we also renewed our contract with KeHE Distributors, ensuring another 10 years of purchasing power and a strengthened position across the supply chain. We also welcomed 33 new members into our cooperative, advancing toward our 2028 goal of member stores in 1,000 communities, and became B Corp Certified, solidifying our commitment to always using business as a force for good. We’re excited to welcome in the next 20 years of ...
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Rounding Out a Year of Wellness: How Independent Retailers Pave the Way

By Bella Syslo posted 01-13-2026
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As we reflect on 2025, one thing is clear: W ellness has become deeply personal. From sleep and heart health to hormones, digestion , and stress, customers turned to independent natural food retailers throughout 2025 f or trusted guidance on their personal wellness journeys. Through INFRA’s partnership with Taste for Life , we share a printed article every month , designed to inform shoppers on the trends shaping wellness today —and we interview incredible wellness staff from INFRA Member stores across the country. Read on for a roundup ...
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