order at wholesale prices
Are you an Owner-member of the SLO Food Co-op? If the answer is “Yes,” then congrats! You are automatically enrolled in our SLO Food Buying Club. What is the Buying Club? As an Owner-member, you can stock up on your favorite products at WHOLESALE PRICES purchased directly from our main distributor, UNFI. That means no markups! This is our way of thanking you for being an Owner-member.
How it works:
COME IN: Access the Buying Club computer station at SLO Food Co-op, located near the registers, against the wall. (Click here if you’d like to learn how to begin your order at home).
SHOP: View an array of items available from our distributor, UNFI, and mark what items you’d like on our Buying Club order form provided. Total your purchases and complete your form. (We’ll help you if you need)
PAY DEPOSIT: Bring your completed order form to the cashier and pay the 50% non-refundable deposit.
PICK-UP: When you arrive at the Co-op, just tell the cashier you’re here for the Buying Club. Pay the remaining balance due on your order.
Want to fill out your order form at home?
(Yes, you’ll still need to come into SLO Food Co-op to complete your order, but you can easily browse wholesale products as well as print and fill out an order form from home).
General FAQS
How do I join the Buying Club?
Become an Owner-member of SLO Food Co-op. See all the great perks here!
When will my order arrive?
If you submitted and paid a deposit on an order by 8pm on Sunday, your order will arrive the following Wednesday evening. You can pick up your order on Thursday or Friday of that same week. (Orders must be in by no later than Sunday at 8pm in order to pick up your order by Thursday or Friday.)
Will you call me when my order is ready?
We don’t have the resources to do this at this time. We ask that you mark your calendar with the pick-up days as a reminder.
What is the minimum order size?
Minimum order of any product is the UNFI pack size for that item. (i.e. tomato sauce available in a pack size of 12/15 oz. This means the smallest amount of that product you can order is a case of 12 jars at 15 ozs each. Pack size information for any product will be available in your search results.
Can I order from UNFI on my home computer?
Yes, you can access the UNFI website from home and start the order process remotely. That said, you won’t be adding any items to your cart (the cart is disabled). The sole purpose of the website is for you to browse the items online. Then, you’ll need to write down your items on the order form, which you obtain from SLO Food Co-op or download and print here. You’ll then need to turn the physical order form to one of our cashiers.
It’s 2021. Do I have to manually turn in my order?
Yes. We cannot accept any VERBAL orders OR ORDERS SENT via email, phone, or fax.
Can I get a refund on my deposit?
The deposit is non-refundable unless SLO Food Co-op makes an error, or if the item ends up being unavailable from UNFI. Additionally, all sales are final unless UNFI or SLO Food Co-op makes an error.
Will you honor SLO Food Co-op’s price, if I find it lower in-store?
We do not honor in-store prices at this time. Items on our shelves may actually be on SALE for a price lower than UNFI’s catalog wholesale price. If you want that product at the sale price, you will need to buy it directly off the shelf instead.
What happened to your Special Order Program?
The Buying Club replaces our long running ‘Special Order Program’, with the biggest difference being that the Buying Club allows all Owner-members to order any item available through our UNFI distributor at wholesale prices. It’s our way of thanking you for being an Owner-member! *You must be an Owner-member to be part of the Buying Club.
How to use our in-store Buying Club Computer Station
I’m not great with computers. Will you show me how?
First, we we recommend you watch our Buying Club how-to video here. You can also come into the Co-op and we’ll happily demonstrate how to place your order. Let us know if it’s your first time!
How do I log in on the Co-op Buying Club computer?
At our Buying Club computer, you will login to the UNFI catalog using a special login. (We will have this information listed at the Buying Club Computer Station.) You can also use your home computer to browse items and fill out an order form.
How do I search for an item I want to buy?
Search for your items by name or product code using the Search bar. Click on the camera icon next to the product code to see a picture of the item. No camera icon means there is no photo available.
Do I need to physically write anything down?
Yes. When you find the items you wish to order, fill in the SLO Food Co-op Buying Form provided paying attention to the column headings. All materials will be provided for you. You can also print and fill out an order form from home.
Will I get a deposit slip?
Yes! This will help you remember what you ordered and is your deposit receipt.
How do I get my order total and deposit total?
Add up your total costs and take the completed form to a Co-op cashier. You’ll be asked to pay a 50% deposit at that time.