Gratitude
Q: I just wanted to extend my sincere thanks to everyone at the coop in these unprecedented times. I am ever so fortunate to be able to have access to your store both physically and financially. As I was eating a fresh apple last night I had a moment to reflect on, what a luxury that it was to be able to do so. In this time. That you folks come to work. Keep the food chain flowing, so that little old me, can be grateful with an apple.
Truly. Thank you folks!! It's no small task you each do. From one food service worker, to another.
A: Thanks for the kind words! I’ll make sure to share your message on our employee intranet for all of us to enjoy. We appreciate you too! Be well! -Kirsten Moore, Cooperative Services Director
Tight ship
Q: We wanted to thank you all for running such a tight ship during the COVID crisis. I don’t think the people at the other stores are doing a bad job, but the employees and customers at the Co-op are much better and we are grateful to have it as a choice.
A: Thank you for your kind words and gratitude! I will be sure to share them with all of our staff. Good health to you! -Liz Hawley, Education and Outreach Coordinator
First hour of the day
Q: I think it’s excellent that you are setting aside the first hour of the day for seniors/those with compromised immune systems. I just want to suggest that you maybe consider setting aside the first hour of just one day for those with compromised immune systems, instead of combining these categories together. I went in to shop this morning around 10:30am, and I was met with a lot of dirty looks, snide remarks, and direct negative communication from seniors because I was there. I am clearly not a senior citizen. I am however, heavily immunocompromised due to my kidney transplant medications. This means that I am incredibly vulnerable. I was not trying to be disrespectful by shopping during the set aside time. I’m just trying to be safe as well, and I shouldn’t have to explain my condition to other people because they are making assumptions about me. Just to clarify, everyone of the staff members were incredibly kind, it was only other customers that seemed to have an issue. I also just want to say thank you to all of the staff for working during this time. You all are truly appreciated! *thank you for reading :)
A: Thanks for the suggestion. I’m very sorry to hear about your experience with other customers during the hour set aside first thing in the morning for seniors and those with compromised immune systems. It is unfortunate, as oftentimes the conditions that compromise immune systems, and sometimes even a person’s actual age, are not necessarily visible to others. You’re absolutely right, you have no reason to explain yourself, and this is why we do not check ID for age or ask for the specific reasons people shop at that hour. We have to reasonably expect people to self-decide whether this is the appropriate time for their shopping and then hope that others will suspend judgment. We did discuss at one point having separate days for the two demographic groups, but decided ultimately that this was too complicated to expect customers to remember. We don’t want anyone to feel like when they arrive at the Co-op they need to turn away or maybe venture out in public twice just because of confusion over scheduling. That said, we will be putting out a post on our social media soon reminding people about this hour of the day, with a message to trust the decisions of others to shop during this time, as both age and ability are not always readily visible. I hope this message meets you healthy and well, and I’m so glad that our staff made you feel welcome and supported. Take care. -Kirsten Moore, Cooperative Services Director
Masks
Q: I greatly appreciate the many new changes in the store and protocols being instituted to keep us safe. I would like to see everybody at the checkout wearing masks: the cashiers and those doing the bagging. This is still a particularly hazardous spot—one to which we have no choice in subjecting ourselves. In addition, I would like to bag my own groceries. I am happy to do my part to take care of it very quickly (since my life is on the line). And then I will get the hell out! Thank you.
A: Thanks for writing and for the suggestion (and frankly, for the laugh line “get the hell out!”). Since the beginning of the pandemic we have allowed employees to wear face coverings that they procured on their own. In anticipation of the CDC’s change in guidance, we started working on sourcing face coverings for our employees and considering policies with guidance from Public Health Madison & Dane County for their care and use. We were able to share the policy regarding face coverings with all employees yesterday and the policy will go into effect Monday, April 13. We currently have enough face coverings on order to provide two to all 420 Co-op employees to make it easier for employees to change and care for them. We will also continue to allow employees to wear cloth face coverings they have sourced or made on their own. Please note, the CDC does recommend that some people refrain from wearing face coverings, and that includes people who may have trouble breathing or may not be able to remove face coverings on their own. Employees who may have these issues are exempt from any expectation to wear face coverings. Take care and good health to you! -Kirsten Moore, Cooperative Services Director
Celebration
Q: Firstly, All of you are doing such a tremendous job making the Co-op such a reliable and trustworthy place for its customers and the community under such an extreme situation. Thanks, many times over.
Here’s an idea that just came to mind. Let’s plan for some kind of celebration when this all over. You could canvas members for ideas. Celebration for just staff by itself would be totally deserved for such an outstanding team effort. Involving the community and your customer base would be cool. Whatever form such celebrations take, “ if we build it, the day of the pandemic will be over .”
A: Thanks for the kind words and the suggestion! It’s going to be awhile before we can plan any kind of celebration, as we just cancelled our large Annual Meeting and Party that we do every year in conjunction with the La Fete de Marquette Festival out of an abundance of caution. But we’ll certainly keep your idea in mind for next year’s party, once we are on to safer times. Thanks again and be well! -Kirsten Moore, Cooperative Services Director
Product decisions
Q: I just learned that you made the decision to cut Supercharge Foods from the Coop. Cutting a LOCAL SMALL business that produces and sells quality products during a pandemic is really disappointing from the Coop that touts supporting local and being a community supporter. This could cost a small business like this their entire operation. I buy direct from them as well as delivery through Christine’s Kitchen...and there is simply not another vendor that offers products of their quality.
A: Thanks for your message. I appreciate that you took the time to write, and I completely understand your frustration about this matter.
This was not a decision that we came to easily or lightly. These sorts of product decisions are always extremely hard to make—we deliberated for many months, and in the end, our team agreed that this was the right move for our business.
I was the Deli manager at Willy East 10 years ago, and I was the person who originally brought SuperCharge products into our stores. I am very glad that we were able to help them grow from a small home-based business to their current location and size. I am also glad that customers like you who value their product can purchase food directly from them - I really do wish them all the best.
I can also say that the microgreens that will replace the SuperCharge! products also come from a small, sustainable local farm—Vitruvian Farms. This farm is located in McFarland and is certified organic, and they use regenerative farming techniques that go well beyond what is required for their organic certification. We are, as always, committed to local suppliers, but we had to make the hard decision to switch which local supplier we get our fresh microgreens from.
Thanks again for writing. –Megan Minnick, Purchasing Director
Bringing back items
Q: Hello Willy Street Coop managers, I really miss the Coops homemade almond milk. I’ve tried the Silk and Almond Breeze brands and don’t like them. The only prepackaged almond milk I can find that’s the next best thing to the almond milk made by the Coop is the 365 Whole Foods brand. Also, I miss your delicious muffins, specifically the Nothing Muffin and the Gluten Free Chocolate muffin(I think it’s vegan, too). Is there a plan to bring these items back? I would appreciate any information you could give.
A: Thanks for reaching out! I wish that I had hard dates for you, but unfortunately at this point I can’t tell you exactly when these items will be back. Our management team is currently working on a plan for how we reopen services in our stores that are currently closed—a lot of it will depend on what kind of direction we get from local and state agencies regarding social distancing and other recommendations.
What I can tell you is that, at this point, we anticipate that our juice bars will be one of the first places in our stores to reopen—before things like the self-service hot bars and salad bars. It is also very likely that our bakery products, particularly the popular ones like Northing Muffins, will be some of the first of our prepared foods products back in our stores. Unfortunately I can’t give you dates on either of these though—believe me, I wish I could!
I hope this is helpful. Thank you for your support!
Best, Megan Minnick, Purchasing Director