Moving Our Cooperative Business Forward

To Our Community,

First and foremost, I would like to thank the employees who came out for our most recent vaccination clinic, held in the Hanover store on July 8. Four employees attended, bringing the total up to seven for both clinics. We will be taking a break from the on-site clinics unless we see more of a need, which is always possible. Our internal vaccination rate now stands at just over 71 percent.

That said, if you have been following the news, you know we are most certainly not out of the woods yet. COVID rates are picking up worldwide, driven largely by the new Delta variant. This variant, and the Lambda variant directly behind it, have public health officials very alarmed. As I have written before, these hideous variants prey on the unvaccinated and people over 50. Therefore, it is critical that all of us remain vigilant, given that the pandemic is fluid and the situation may change.

So for now, let us celebrate where are, our 70+ percent vaccination rate, and our glorious mask-free existence.

Business Updates

Each month I write a monthly snapshot about our business and share it with employees and members by email and on our Co-op blog. These updates are called our State of the Co-op reports. If you have missed the blog posts, you can find the information posted online here.

I encourage all of our members and shoppers to review these reports at your convenience. The next report will be coming out on July 29, after the July Board meeting. If you have questions or would like to learn more, reach out to me anytime.

Business Canvas Presentations

Finally, as devoted readers of all my blog posts (LOL), you will know we are using a tool called the Business Canvas to aid in the development of our business plan. A Business Canvas is a strategic-management template that breaks a business model down into several building blocks.

Currently we are working on models for the Co-op Market, our local/online ordering strategy, and the Service Centers. Our teams will make Business Canvas presentations to the leadership team throughout August.

I will update you after each presentation.

Wrap Up

Although I am keen for you to studiously read my blog posts, sadly there will be no blog update from me next week. I will be gone all next week and have promised my family I will not be checking email, text messages, or phone calls. My last attempt at a vacation was a disaster, so I will not be making that mistake again!

My thanks to all of our members and shoppers for the continued support, and as always, feel free to reach out to me anytime. Be kind to one another and to yourselves, and we look forward to serving you in our stores and at the curbside.

Onward and upward,

Paul

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Paul Guidone

Paul Guidone, CFA, spent the better part of four decades in the investment management business here and abroad. He held positions ranging from analyst through Deputy Chairman and Group CEO, at organizations such as Citigroup (US) and The HSBC Group (London and Hong Kong). He joined the Co-op in 2016 as the CFO and in 2018 became Strategic Advisor to the General Manager. Paul was appointed by the Co-op Board as interim General Manager in March 2020 and General Manager in September 2020. To contact, email PGuidone@coopfoodstore.com.

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