About Us: Valley Cooperative Association
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Who We Are
Valley Cooperative Association is a food distributor serving Wisconsin, The Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Illinois, and Minnesota, that formed in 1949 by a group of professional bakers seeking a better way of buying their ingredients and supplies during tough economic times.
Since then, we have expanded our offerings to include climate-controlled storage and transit and expanded into new markets working alongside:
- Institutional food service companies
- Manufacturers
- Pizza restaurants
- Donut shops
- Artisan bread makers
- Candy makers
- Grocery stores
- Craft breweries
- Latino(a) owned businesses
- And more!
Our Mission
We empower people and organizations to benefit from their collective strength. With outstanding employees and dynamic vendor partnerships, we deliver the finest baking-related products at the best possible value. By working together in support of bakery traditions, we enhance our communities.
Our Vision
Valley Companies will create value like no other by exceeding Stakeholders expectations through market leadership and operational excellence.
Supporting Our Communities Through Cooperation
At Valley, we work together with our members, customers, and vendors in support of bakery traditions to enhance our communities by proudly contributing to the places we call home through meaningful charitable outreach.
“We are thrilled to continue supporting our communities, a commitment that lies at the heart of our mission. Giving back to the community is not just something we do—it’s who we are. By working together, we aim to make a meaningful impact and help strengthen the neighborhoods that support us all.”
- Rich Weiss, CEO
We support non-profit organizations with 501(c)3 status operating within Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Our focus is on initiatives that channel a high percentage of funding toward impactful programs.
Each year Valley hosts a charitable golf outing and raises funds to actively invest in strengthening our communities, focusing on impactful contributions that align with our mission. Our employees also come together throughout the year to volunteer at various non-profit organizations.
We strive to make a meaningful difference in the neighborhoods we serve.
Our History & Leadership
Valley Cooperative Association’s humble beginnings started when after serving in World War II, Frances E. Quigley became a bakery supply salesman in Neenah, Wisconsin. The end of price controls led to dramatic price rises for ingredients and supplies. The small bakers Fran served were reluctant to pass those increases on to customers. They needed a way to lower their costs. Quigley suggested they combine their purchasing power in a cooperative. This would also allow them to reduce time and expense spent on ordering, storing, and delivery. To Fran’s small bakery customers, the idea made sense.
With Fran leading the way, Valley Cooperative Association was born. The idea took off and the co-op began a steady climb. Valley has been offering a cost-effective method for members to buy supplies and stay competitive ever since.
Today Valley remains member-owned and is led by a board of directors and team of executives.
Our Facility
Valley Cooperative Association operates out of Greenville, Wisconsin. Our facility includes:
- Administrative office space: This area houses customer service, inventory control, IT, and management personnel. In addition to three conference rooms, the facility includes a comfortable lunchroom and an employee fitness room.
- Training center: The R.W. Hiller Bakery Technology Room, Valley’s onsite training center, includes a fully equipped kitchen and classroom. This facility is used for advanced training, certification, product testing, and ongoing professional development and education. Click here to learn more.
- Warehouse: Our storage capacity exceeds 8.7 million cubic feet. Overall, our facility has three warehouse temperature zones: 10 below zero deep freeze, 35-degree refrigeration, and ambient room temperature. Our main facility is less than 3 miles from US-41, the major north-south artery in the Fox Valley. Trucks are served with 25 bay loading docks.
- Uninterruptible Power Supply: All on-site operations are supported by a UPS system to ensure uninterrupted continuity of our servers and essential office functions. Two industrial diesel generators stand ready to provide all our electrical needs.