Sunsetting Groceries-2-Go

Over the past two years, U.S. retailers have seen a steady decline in curbside shopping, and the Co-op is no exception. At the same time, we have seen a dramatic uptick in interest in our other community programming. While curbside pickup numbers have declined, other programs have seen their waiting lists grow. Our primary focus now must be getting food to people in need. This is where we continue to see a strong and growing demand.

When we first introduced curbside pickup in the summer of 2020, we set out to respond to an immediate community need—a flexible and responsive service to help people safely access food during the pandemic. While the goal of meeting people where they are remains, due to declining interest in curbside pickup, we are retiring Groceries-2-Go in order to concentrate on other community programs that require our energy and limited resources.

Our plan is to sunset Groceries-to-Go and archive all projects under the program on October 28th, 2023.

What happens next?

We recognize that Groceries-2-Go is still used by various members of our community. Moving to an alternative solution takes time and energy, so we encourage anyone with questions or feedback to reach out to us so we can assist with the adjustment in any way we can.

Also, as we think about what comes next, we want to take the opportunity to recognize the amazing people who brought us here. Co-op staff launched a huge program in record time and faced enormous logistical challenges along the way.

I speak for many when I say Groceries-2-Go represents everything good about the people at the Co-op, namely concern for our communities, creativity, tenacity, and a human-centric vision for the work we do.

We are committed to helping shoppers plan for this change, and we look forward to finding new and engaging opportunities for our team members who hit the ball out of the park on this project, as usual.

Thank You

To all involved with Groceries-2-Go, including both staff and shoppers, we thank you. This hasn’t been an easy goodbye. It’s worth reflecting that curbside pickup has been a foundational program that paved the way for others to follow. Also, keep in mind that the program is not going away—it is being archived. We now know how to get curbside pickup up and running. Should a critical community need return, we would be able to respond quickly.

Welcome Back

As we say goodbye to curbside shopping, I would like to personally welcome everyone back to in-store shopping and events. For many of us, this is something of a last step in a highly anticipated return to normalcy. We’re excited to reopen our cafe and launch a new season of Co-op Classes and other demos and events.

Our stores have long been a place of both physical and social nourishment—bustling community hubs where good people can come together over good food. Groceries-2-Go has been a key player in many staff and shopper journeys, and we look forward to building and shaping the next chapter of our community programs together.

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Amanda Charland

Amanda Charland is the General Manager of the Co-op Food Stores. She was first hired as the Co-op's Sustainability Coordinator in 2012, and joined the Co-op Leadership Team as Member Services and Outreach Director in 2014. She earned a Master's Degree in Cooperative Management in 2017, and she was promoted to Director of Cooperative Engagement in 2018. She was hired by the Co-op Board of Directors as General Manager in 2022. Contact her at acharland@coopfoodstore.com.

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