Word from the GM

Hello Cooperators!

I hope everyone is doing well as we enter the middle of the holiday season! The Co-op is doing as well as can be expected considering all of the factors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The biggest challenges that we are facing now are product procurement and the associated rapid cost inflation on many of the products we love. We got into an explanation of the supply chain disruption issues that drive inflation last month. We will do our best to procure replacement items for ones that we know will be out of stock for long periods of time. We ask for everyone's understanding and flexibility as we wait for these products to become available again.

This month I feel I need to open up about the cost inflation that we have been dealing with that started nearly two years ago and has steadily grown more problematic. Our goal all along has been to try not to overreact. While much of our competition has been passing on price increases all along, we took a slower approach by raising prices only on the items that we had to in the hopes of seeing inflation ebb and then reverse itself. But, unfortunately, we can no longer ignore the fact that our costs have increased and we have reached the point that we can no longer wait. 

Do not worry, your Co-op is still in fine shape! We continue to be profitable, but not at the levels needed in order to grow, continue to pay our staff a living wage, and remain viable in the future. So, in order to be as transparent as possible, I just wanted to let everyone know that you will most likely start noticing some price increases as we move forward. For now there will be little to no price increases in our Food for All program items. Our dry grocery pricing is pretty much on target so there should not be huge increases in the main aisles in the near future. Produce, Kitchen and Cafe are also close to where they need to be, so we will not be changing these prices until we see more cost increases on these items.

Refrigerated items (mostly dairy), frozen foods, bulk foods, as well as wine and beer will be where most of the noticeable increases will be happening. Specialty cheese pricing will need to increase slightly also.

Please bear with us as we navigate through this volatile time. We will of course be reviewing pricing regularly and making adjustments, whether they be up or down, to serve our community, owners, and staff as best as we can.

Thank you all for supporting the Co-op!

Gary