The State of the Coop
Chris Hardie on Dec 31st 2008
To All Clear Creek Food Cooperative Members, Supporters and Customers,
Over the last year, the Board of Directors and Management of the Coop have conducted intensive discussions about the viability and future of the Coop and its business model. The document that’s linked at the end of this post is a result of those conversations, and we feel that it is a summary of the state of the organization, as it exists today. A summary was presented to all in attendance of our recent all-member meeting in November. We’d like to make it more broadly available for any feedback.
We know that for many of you, the day-to-day experience of the Coop is a much brighter one than is presented here. We know that it’s a place where students gather for lunch, where members of the local community come to shop for delicious and healthy food items, and where there is a sense of an important place built to be a positive alternative cultural space in the world of food and health.
While these experiences and benefits are real, there is a difficult, co-existing reality that we as board members and long-time supporters of the Coop keep coming back to: one of an unsustainable organization, one that hobbles along, making just money enough to pay the bills while unable to pay its staff a living wage, compete with other local grocery options, or meet the needs and interests of those who are excited about healthy and local sources of food. Further, we’ve come to recognize that this is not a new trend; the Coop has lived in this state of barely surviving while not living up to its potential for many years now.
For these reasons and others highlighted in what follows, the Board and Management of the Coop are exploring a variety of new directions for the business, and we fully acknowledge that one of them involves the closing down of the Coop as we’ve known it.
We hope that whatever your relationship with the Coop, you’ll review this information and reflect on your own hopes and experiences here, and communicate with us about what you think is possible moving forward. While we welcome your dreams, also know that we are at a point where we need specific plans to implement, and the committed resources in place to make those plans possible.
You can send your feedback to us using the e-mail address below. If you prefer, you’re welcome to call the Coop and one of the staff can put you in touch with us by phone or in person.
Thank you for your consideration and support as we try to determine what’s best for our mission, our values, and our community.
On Behalf of The Board of Directors,
Chris Hardie, President
board@clearcreekcoop.org
Clear Creek Food Co-op is a natural foods store located in downtown Richmond, Indiana. Our mission is to provide healthy food and high quality products to our members and the local community.
Hello! I’ve just read the document. While sobering, it truly sums up what has been long felt. I have been a past board member, and there has always been a sense of imbalance between the love we have for the co-op and its mission, and the limited sense of accomplishment. There have been surges in energy and profits, and downturns as well. I applaud the current board members for forcing a look at reality. I appreciate former board members and presidents who have worked valiantly for the mission of sustainability and the co-op mission.
I can support all four of the suggestions listed in the document. We use bulk buying a great deal, and our sons enjoy semi regular volunteering there. I love the whole feel of the co-op when I buy local this and that and would miss it tremendously. But, perhaps its a phoenix waiting to happen. We will continue our purchases now, and will support the future of the co-op, however it rises.
Amy Ritchie, Richmond
As an Earlham Alumnus and former Clear Creek Volunteer, I can not imagine Richmond without the Coop. I would like to echo Amy’s point that this report is sobering and frustrating. But a crisis often calls for a sober voice.
Usually, I am not one to promote addition by subtraction. However, a steady hand and a sharp scalpel can really help cut dead weight. While many hands help with a heavy load, a lighter load is necessary when those hands are not found.
I wish you all the best of luck in this difficult and stressful time.
Alex Winnett- Washington DC
I feel your pain, since I also served on the board a number of years ago when these problems were starting to get unmanageable. I think your document is an honest appraisal of the state that the co-op has been in for a long time now and what I experienced as a past board member. So I would certainly understand if it were time to lay the co-op down.
A few other ideas…
I don’t actually take advantage of the lunch program that much, but I think it is a wonderful addition to the food choices available on campus. I wonder if there is the energy to keep the lunch program going and perhaps extend food service into (or after) the dinner hour, maybe serving a simple soup and student-made bread. This new eatery could still keep the focus alive of being a cooperative.
My other notion is to begin conversations with the EC bookstore about somehow combining forces to make a cooperative book/gift/dorm-grocery store, with memberships securing a discount or rebate.
Janet Wagner,
Richmond
I recently became a Co-op member and frequently purchase bulk items such as flour, oat bran, spices, etc. at the Co-op, as I find this more economical than the local grocery store (though I actually haven’t compared prices). I would definitely miss this option.
One thing that the Co-Op doesn’t do that I would be very interested in is locally-grown and/or organic fresh produce. I have seen bits and pieces over the past few weeks and I think this a great idea. This could be expanded and even take on a CSA model, whereby members elect to purchase a weekly delivery of a variety of locally-grown vegetables. Each week, each member would get a selection of locally-grown vegetables and/or fruit (whatever is in season).
I also love the fresh bread and muffins that have been on offer recently. I would probably be more inclined to buy these products if they were produced during the week, since I work at Earlham — I can see offices buying these and leaving them around the coffee pot!
If the Co-op needs to close temporarily to think about how to become a more sustainable operation, would it perhaps be possible to allow for community members to place orders for various products which could then be delivered and/or picked up at a central location (Runyan?). That would allow for some income in the intervening time.
Folks- I literally just found out about the Co-op last night after seeking out such a resource since I arrived in Richmond 18 months ago. Word of mouth works but it is slow! After reviewing the “State of the Co-Op” document, I am worried that the week I find you may be the week I lose you. However, one thing strikes me from the document. There appears to be an overwhelming sentiment that there are no further ideas than those listed. This beg’s the question, have you approached other successful Co-Ops or national organizations (ie NCGA) for their comments or input, or at least as a model? If there is truly inspiration to maintain the as well as grow the organization, an external review followed by a solid action plan (unrevocable for 5 to 10 years) would be appropriate. Finally, please let me suggest the CoOp that I left behind in Carrboro, North Carolina as an example. Weaver Street Market started small, but has become a community center and valuable resource within just the last few years. Their website is http://www.weaverstreetmarket.coop/
If these are rehashed ideas, please excuse my inexperience.
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