Area food co-op still looking for new site, losing leader to California co-op

Central Co-op grocer’s CEO and President Dan Arnett is taking another job with a California co-op.

Arnett has taken a job as general manager of the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, according to Jennifer Cliff, the Sacramento co-op’s spokeswoman, and a note from Arnett sent to local co-op members Thursday afternoon.

He replaces longtime general manager Paul Cultrera who retires Oct. 31. In late August, the Sacramento co-op opened a new $10 million store.

Meanwhile members and management of the two co-ops — Tacoma and Central out of Seattle — are still working out details of their new world after merging in December. Among the issues include finding a site for a new store to replace the one in Tacoma that abruptly closed in July.

Arnett will start transitioning to the Sacramento Co-op in October, Cliff said Wednesday in a phone interview. In the note to Tacoma-Seattle co-op members, Arnett wrote he would remain as “Cooperator in Chief” at Central Co-op through December.

“We will continue our work opening a new storefront in Tacoma,” the note added.

This story was originally published September 1, 2016 at 3:34 PM with the headline "Area food co-op still looking for new site, losing leader to California co-op."