Clear Creek Food Cooperative

We have several updates to report on related to planning around the future of the Co-op:

Last week, I met with members of Earlham College’s administrative faculty to discuss the proposals the Co-op had put forth to the College regarding its future on campus.  The bottom-line conclusion from this conversation was that the College would do all that it can to remove any barriers to the Co-op’s success in its current location, but that it is also limited in what it can do to support a private business on campus.  We appreciated that Earlham took the time to consider our requests, and we think we have a good understanding of the constraints they face.

One exciting conversation that remains ongoing is with a group of Earlham students who are invested in the idea of maintaining a “meal plan” much like the Co-op has provided to the campus for many years now.  The Co-op is working with the students to see what information and resources we can provide to make this possible, with the understanding that if it moves forward, it will have the benefit of being student owned and run, and possibly supported financially through financial resources available to on-campus student organizations.

In the context of our larger conversations about the future of the Co-op, the board and staff feel that it is still best for the organization to continue to take the time and space to re-evaluate our business model and find a new way forward.  To that end, we’ve made several decisions that affect the Co-op in the coming months:

• After the end of the Spring semester, the Co-op will scale back its operations to only being a bulk-buying club.  We’re still working to determine just what that will look like, but those of you who have placed bulk orders with the Co-op in the past can expect similar opportunities and service, and possibly some increased offerings.
• We’ll begin work soon to close down grocery operations, including the selling off of our existing inventory.  We’ll post information on our website as it becomes available about revised operating hours, dates for store closure, etc.
• The Co-op will not seek to renew any staffing contracts after the current ones expire.  Specifically, we will not be hiring a new General Manager to replace our departing co-Managers, and we will not renew the Kitchen Manager position.
• We’ll remain in our current location for the very short-term, with hopes to either explore a medium-term solution of co-locating with the student-run meal plan, or a longer-term solution of opening in a new location off of campus.

We know that despite these decisions, much remains to be determined about the Co-op’s future.  We are excited to be continuing that conversation, and invite the participation of those who want to help shape that future - contact us if you’re interested.  We also encourage Earlham students who are interested in a meal plan to work with the students who are planning its new life there; you can contact Aaron Goldbeck for more information about that.

Thanks to all who have shared your perspectives, time and energy thus far around the future life of the Co-op.

On Behalf of The Board of Directors,
Chris Hardie, President
board@clearcreekcoop.org