Co-op Month Report: Moving Our Co-op Forward

Dear Co-op Members,

October is Co-op Month! As we celebrate the cooperative movement this month, I’d like to tell you about how we’ve been working as a team to make our cooperative stronger.

Our Co-op recently launched ECRS, a technology suite we implemented to bring our systems up to date. As you might imagine, it’s been an adventure! Such is the nature of change. But our staff’s teamwork and tenacity through this transition has been remarkable. ECRS is now in place and helping to streamline operations from inventory to checkout. This not only makes our Co-op more efficient and competitive, it also frees up staff to take care of people instead of outworn systems.

In tandem with ECRS, our Co-op also launched an all-new approach to our prepared foods program. Our Co-op Kitchen in Wilder, Vt., is producing at a steady rate, bringing much-needed consistency to the prepared foods we offer in our stores. In short, months of planning is coming together. We’re already seeing the benefits of ECRS and the reenvisioned Co-op Kitchen. To me, this is a textbook example of teamwork, cooperation, and smart, careful planning.

Where are we now? We’re hiring! Early on, we put the staffing structure in place to support the changes we were planning. Now we’re carefully matching available talent to the appropriate needs. Our goal is not simply to hire people, but to hire the right people. A recent job fair was very well-attended, and we’re excited about the pool of talented applicants looking to build a career at the Co-op.

We’re just getting started with all of this, of course. There is still a lot of work to be done. But much has been accomplished already, and as we move forward, I want to thank all of you for your patience and sense of purpose as we have gone through this process. Throughout our Co-op, I’ve seen people welcoming change, and dedicating themselves to our organization and the communities we all serve. It makes me proud to be here and proud of the team we are building.

Have questions or feedback? I’d love to know what’s on your mind. Reach out to me anytime. My door is always open to you.

—Ed Fox

NOURISH. CULTIVATE. COOPERATE.

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Ed Fox

Ed Fox is the Co-op General Manager. To contact, email EdFox@coopfoodstore.com.

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