History

Growth & More Growth

The ten-year anniversary of the Co-op saw sales over the $1 million mark, and membership rise to 3,000. In 1987 the Co-op made the move to its present location in Nob Hill . The move was made on a shoestring loan of $284,000 from the National Co-op Bank. Membership and sales grew.

Like all Co-ops, La Montañita relied on member/ owners as volunteer help for many years. These volunteers were the backbone of the Co-op, repacking bulk items, stocking shelves, unloading trucks, bagging groceries, and in general providing the energy to keep our Co-op going. In the early 1990's the Department of Labor decreed that we could no longer utilize the help of our member volunteers in any position they deemed a "wage labor" job. Members could, however, participate in the Co-op as volunteers in areas supervised by the Board of Directors, or in what the Department of Labor called "outreach programs."

Early Days

La Montañita Co-op Natural Foods Market was incorporated on September 1, 1976, and was managed for 3 years largely as a collective, with the Board of Directors serving as staff. The original membership consisted of 300 families. By 1980, the collective management had given way to a 3 member management team. In 1984, the management of La Montañita revisited its business practices after losing $17,000 in a year, and more emphasis was placed on paid, accountable staff. Also in that year the Ocha Co-op in the North Valley closed and the following year the New Life Co-op in Santa Fe closed.

Second Store Opening

After years of surveying our members and several market research studies, La Montañita found a second location in a much under-served neighborhood in the North Valley. On September 30, 1999, we opened the doors to our new Valley store. 300 new memberships and member renewals where written in the first three days.

Today we are over 13,000 member households strong, with a 9 person Board of Directors elected to represent the membership. The Co-op employs over 100 full and part-time staff with an emphasis on team management within each department.

Competition Comes to Town

In 1992 the first natural foods competition, Wild Oats, arrived in Albuquerque. After a period of losses, steps where taken to control La Montañita's spiraling wage structure and a purchasing/marketing strategy developed. Sales once again are at record levels.

In 1996, the remodel of the Nob Hill store began and one possible location for a second store in the NE Heights was actively pursued. The second location couldn't be financed successfully, but the remodel continued and was successfully completed in the fall of 1997. La Montañita continued to prosper.