Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC) today announced the release of its inaugural Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report.

“Natural Grocers® was founded by our parents in 1955. They wanted to improve the health and wellbeing of their family, friends and neighbors and sustain the health of the planet we all share. They were pioneers in the sustainability and regenerative agriculture movement. Today, Natural Grocers is still a leader of this movement because our Five Founding Principles continue to drive our business practices: Nutrition Education, the highest Quality organic and natural products, Always Affordable^SM prices, Commitment to our Crew and our Communities. This is why and how our business practices allow us to make a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of our communities and the planet,” said Heather Isely, Natural Grocers’ Executive Vice President.

The inaugural ESG report is primarily focused on product standards – the cornerstone of Natural Grocers’ sustainability principles and an area in which it is an industry leader. The Company’s commitment to establishing product standards that support human and environmental health is evidenced in its continuous efforts to enhance these standards. For example, Natural Grocers, which sold only cage-free eggs since its founding, enhanced its product standards in 2016 to sell only free-range eggs. Likewise, in 2014 the Company was an early adopter of product standards designed to remove all confinement dairy products from its stores and continues to sell only 100% pasture-based dairy products. Natural Grocers makes every effort to base its product standards on relevant scientific evidence to best support the sustainability and health of the food system, Crew members, and its communities, and is committed to continuing to drive higher product standards within the industry.

Ms. Isely continued, “We hope to inspire other companies around the world to follow our lead and to realize that it is possible to offer high-quality organic and natural products at always affordable prices. Since its founding, Natural Grocers has embraced practices intended to make our food system more just, sustainable, and equitable.”

The report is available from the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at http://investors.naturalgrocers.com/.