3 Businesses You Might not Have Known Were Employee-Owned
You Know These Companies—But Did You Know They Were Employee-Owned?
Employee ownership often sounds like a niche idea—something reserved for small-town shops or co-ops. But the truth is, some of the most successful and recognizable brands in the U.S. have quietly embraced employee ownership as a core part of their business model.
Here are three companies you may have shopped at, worn, or toasted with—without ever realizing who really owns them.
WinCo Foods: A Supermarket That Shares the Wealth
If you live in the western U.S., chances are you've walked the aisles of WinCo Foods—a no-frills grocery chain known for its low prices and warehouse-style layout. What you might not know is that WinCo is entirely employee-owned through an ESOP.
Rather than funneling profits to outside shareholders, WinCo invests them in its workforce. Eligible employees become owners and gradually accumulate shares in the company over time. That means a long-time cashier or stocker could retire with a six-figure nest egg—all by building wealth through their work.
This model hasn’t just empowered employees—it’s helped WinCo thrive in an industry dominated by giants like Walmart and Kroger. Turns out, giving employees a stake in the outcome is good business.
W.L. Gore & Associates: Innovation with Ownership Built In
You may not recognize the name W.L. Gore & Associates, but you probably know their most famous invention: Gore-Tex, the breathable, waterproof fabric that revolutionized outdoor gear.
What’s less known is that W.L. Gore is employee-owned and has been for decades. The company is famous not just for its technology, but for its flat, team-based management structure, where leadership is based more on influence than hierarchy. That democratic ethos is backed by ownership—employees have a tangible stake in the company’s direction and success.
This alignment of innovation, collaboration, and ownership has helped Gore remain competitive and values-driven in a fast-moving tech landscape.
New Belgium Brewing: A Toast to Employee Ownership
If you've ever enjoyed a Fat Tire Amber Ale, you've tasted the work of New Belgium Brewing, one of the pioneers of the craft beer movement. For many years, New Belgium was proudly 100% employee-owned through an ESOP.
The company's founders saw employee ownership as a way to stay true to their values as they scaled—rewarding the people who helped build the brand and anchoring the company in community-minded decision-making. Even when New Belgium was eventually sold to an international brewer, it had already shown what was possible: an employee-owned business that could compete, grow, and remain beloved.
New Belgium remains a touchstone in the employee ownership world—proof that even in a competitive industry like beer, ownership can be shared without sacrificing success.
Rethinking What Ownership Looks Like
These companies aren’t outliers—they’re examples of what’s possible when ownership is broadened beyond a few executives or distant shareholders. Whether it’s groceries, gear, or beer, employee ownership is quietly reshaping the American economy.
At Silver Surf, we’re spotlighting the people and stories behind this movement. Because the more we know about who owns what—and how— the more we can reimagine what business success really looks like.