No matter what kind of expansion your co-op wants to do, there are always hurdles to be overcome. Everyone has them, although some projects come with a unique set of challenges. The Hendersonville Community Co-op in Hendersonville, North Carolina has had numerous locations and expansions in its 30+ year history, but their latest expansion going from 3,800 to 8,000 square feet, required a re-working [...]
Your new store will have a bigger deli, more parking and a better floor plan. But will it have the staffing to support bigger and better operations? You will have a strong staffing plan to match your expansion plan if you remember a few key guidelines: First and most importantly, everyone has to be clear on where the organization is going and why, in [...]
At Outpost Natural Foods they've achieve success by growing their co-op too reach a wider portion of the market and to create increased access to healthful foods for much of the Milwaukee area. Hear from their GM, Pam Mehnert, some valuable insights and first-hand reports about what has worked well for Outpost on their journey through growth.
Bobby Sullivan, the general manager of French Broad Food Co-op has some clear and direct ideas about how co-ops can and must thrive amidst growing competition. The area of Asheville, North Carolina is an extremely competitive market for natural foods, and the co-op needed to step up its game. By focusing on excellent service and marketplace differentiation as a co-op, they are seeing rapid [...]
Sharon Murphy brings the motto of Whole Foods Co-op in Duluth, "Community Owned, that's the difference". Learn how WFC has been able to sustain growth and expansion in service to their community of owners. Store Manager Sarah Hannigan brings to bear her own background as a community organizer to her new task of managing a community-owned grocery co-op.
This outline of development process will help you keep your project on track without forgetting any important step!
Michelle Schry, General Manager People's Food Cooperative, LaCrosse, WI & Rochester, MN Learn about the process, the challenges, and the triumphs of the unique "merger" that took place in Rochester. Michelle Schry, GM, tells about the engagement, the participation, and the support that poured from BOTH communities.
City Market Onion River Co-op Burlington, VT Year founded: 1973 Member investment: $200 equity Number of members: 10,000 Retail square feet: 12,000 Number of employees: 215 The City Market Onion River Co-op in Burlington, Vt. is a thriving downtown food co-op celebrating its 40th anniversary. It’s poised for growth and with a membership of 10,000 people has made a real impact during its history. [...]
By Jeanie Wells 171 March-April 2014 Your market study promises great sales. Developers are wooing you into their properties. Staff and shoppers are clamoring for more space. Adding a second store seems like a piece of cake, right? Not quite. Ask any leader of a food co-op that has made the leap from single to multi-store operations, and you will inevitably hear tales of [...]
