About Frontier Co-op
Since 1976, Frontier Co-op has been showing the world that Doing Good, Works.
Doing Good, Works.
Now more than 40,000-member owners strong, we’re dedicated to sourcing the highest quality spices, herbs and botanical products through our Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic® and Aura Cacia® brands — all while creating life-changing opportunities for our growers, employees and their families. We’re driven by a simple purpose: to do good by our people and planet. And to create a stronger company built on a commitment to quality and sustainability.
Management Team
Management Team Frontier has assembled a team of managers with both the business skills and personal qualities to maintain the high standards for products, service and responsibility that have been the company's tradition. Tony Bedard Chief Executive Officer Tony Bedard joined Frontier Co-op in 1991 as head of Operations and was named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2003.
What is Organic?
Frontier Co-op was one of the first suppliers to actively advocate organic products and organic agriculture — and we're thrilled with the strong and steady growth of organics in the natural products, and now mainstream, marketplace. We carried our first organic products in 1978, and became a certified organic processor as soon as that program was available.
Sustainability
Frontier Co-op seeks to work with brands that share our mission of working toward a sustainable future. Doing business sustainably involves measuring our success in terms of social and environmental responsibility as well as financial results.
GIVING BACK
We work with organizations in our community to break down barriers to employment through transportation assistance, hiring opportunities for returning citizens, and funding assistance for local transitional housing programs. Each year, we commit 5% of our profit toward socially responsible spending, which includes our two brand-specific grant programs, support for national research on and the promotion of organics, and funding to support the individual needs of the communities in which we work both locally and globally.
Our Growers
We meet personally with growers whenever possible and create partnerships built upon our mutual respect for quality botanicals and sound social and environmental practices Our Well Earth sustainable sourcing program is built on the expertise we've gained from over three decades of experience buying botanicals from all over the world. The direct relationships of Well Earth allow us to develop effective and meaningful social giving projects for our grower communities.
What is a Co-op?
What is a Co-op? Frontier Co-op has been a member-owned cooperative supporting natural living since 1976 — owned by stores and other organizations that buy and sell our products. We feel the insights and values we gain from this special relationship with our owners are at the heart of our success.
Our History
Each year, Frontier Co-op gives back 4% of its pre-tax profits to causes and organizations around the world that inspire wellness in communities where our products are produced. 1970-79 Begin selling herbs and spices to local co-ops as a two-person operation in a small riverside cabin.
Frontier Co-op Giving Fund
The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation administers the Frontier Co-op Giving Fund, which is a donor-advised fund. This means that Frontier Co-op makes recommendations on grants, and the Community Foundation is responsible for ensuring that the grants meet regulations and for handling the grant-making process.
Quality
You can trust our products. We have the skills resources necessary to find and buy top botanical products from around the world — and to make sure that those products have no adulteration, fillers or questionable ingredients.
Well Earth
Our Well Earth sustainable sourcing program, started in 2007, is still going strong — adding supplier partners, increasing the volume of our products sourced through the program and helping grower communities around the world. We create true partnerships with the growers and communities who supply our products through the Well Earth program.
