Welcome to the first issue of the COOP SCOOP! We saw a need to communicate what is going on inside the co-op to our shoppers, shareholders, and those just interested in learning more about who we are! These updates will be shared monthly.
January was quite the month for Abundance. Slowly but surely we’re able to (re)fill our shelves once again with items that have been on backorder because of the pandemic. If you still are noticing your favorite item is not stocked – reach out to us and let us know!
Index
GENERAL NEWS
Composting Change
One of the programs we have here at the co-op is our composting partnership with Impact Earth. On January 4th, 2021, Impact Earth acquired Community Composting. We had previously been partnered with Community Composting before the merger for multiple years. Our shoppers’ love composting, and we are very happy to extend this program with Impact Earth.
Our Cafe has reopened!
Our cafe area is re-open to the public!
We have limited the available seating, and we spaced out the tables. We’re just so excited to have shoppers sitting down to enjoy your purchases again.
No large meetings or gatherings permitted. Masks are still required at the coop, while not seated and eating.
ROUND UP
January Round Up
January the coop supported the local non-profit, REACH Advocacy and their goal to build Tiny Homes for those currently facing chronic homelessness in the Rochester area.
With all your help we collected $864.00 for this non-profit!
February Round Up
February the coop is supporting a truly wonderful non-profit, Daystar Kids.
Daystar is New York State’s only pediatric day-respite center, helping families successfully transition their infant or young child with special healthcare needs from the hospital to home and support their healthy development all the way until they enroll in kindergarten.
CENTER STORE
January the co-op welcomed a new Center Store Manager, Steve Kelly. Steve comes to us with almost forty years in the industry!
We are happy to announce we have bagged Lundberg rice back on the shelves – this is a popular item that was asked for often.
Some new items to keep your eyes out for- local Valentines goodies, Mark & Amy’s Pickles (local), and an expanded organic meats and seafood department!
PRODUCE
Produce Department
January had some amazing MEGA sales on organic avocados and citrus! For this month of February we have organic blueberries on MEGA sale, two pints of plump, organic blueberries for $7.
If you follow our social media channels, you know that the Brittany and Hope (from our produce department) met with the folks over at GoodHealthy to bring more LOCAL ORGANIC produce to the co-op. We are so excited to add another local choice for our shoppers!
This month the department will begin stocking fresh flowers on a regular basis! Let’s go SPRING!
DELI & BAKERY
January was a busy month for our prepared foods department! Our flavor of the month was LEMON, proving to be a popular choice as the vegan lemon cake was a top seller for the department! This month the department is highlighting STRAWBERRY – come by and check out all the delicious items we have in store!
Our relationship with Eden Cafe and New Ethic Pizzeria strengthened – we expanded our offerings provided by each local eatery! This month we also rolled out a full calendar of New Ethic’s offerings at the coop, Fridays we are introducing GLUTEN FREE FRIDAYS.
Have you tried our new wrap? January we rolled out with our new vegan house made offering, the Chickpea Apple Walnut Wrap– it is out of this world! In the works (Shhhh don’t tell Lynne, our kitchen manager, we’ve spilled the beans) a Vegan Garbage Plate Wrap!
Valentine Preorders
We are currently accepting pre-orders for our Valentines goodies, Vegan and made in house! To order, please email lynne@abundance.coop
AVAILABLE
- 6 inch Heart Shaped Vegan Vanilla cake with Vanilla Frosting – $10.99
- 6 inch Heart Shaped Vegan Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting – $10.99
- A Dozen Vegan Chocolate Covered Long Stem Strawberries – $14.99
Eden Cafe offerings
New Ethic Pizza
BULK
The bulk department is back up and running at full speed. We have been able to restock many of the products and spices that were on backstock. Newly in, Blocks of Beeswax!
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Our Health & Beauty department is growing slowly, but surely. We have some really great supplements to help keep you healthy this season and all year round.
Next time you’re at the co-op check out our brand name of premium supplements! Have a question on what you can find – reach out to Nicole, our Health & Beauty buyer.
BEER, CIDER & MORE
Our Beer, Cider & More department is proud to tout that over 50% of our inventory is comprised of local brewers and crafters! We are also the ONLY store to carry ‘Skins’ by Seed & Stone.
MESSAGE FROM THE GM
Greetings Abundance Owners!
An Abundance of New Year’s greetings and well wishes to you!
This past year Covid-19 has certainly pushed us all to new limits of what we thought we were capable of facing, enduring, and overcoming. The battle is not over, let’s stay strong, and stay the course of being safe.
We have been honored to be here helping our community with great healthy food choices. So many great people in the food supply industry work hard every day to make sure we have the products we need and love. Serving the needs of others is a very fulfilling.
We would like to hear from you. We are actively working on expanding the variety of choices we have for our shoppers this year. Are there items you would like us to carry we don’t have currently? Are there categories within the store you would like to see us have a wider variety of selection in? What items do you go to other stores to buy that we could be offering to you here? Please help us serve you better by letting us know.
We have set up a “Customer Feedback” station in the store, right as you walk into our Produce section. Please utilize that to tell us how we are doing. Our priority is to make sure we are doing our best to serve the needs and desires of our Shareholders. You drive what we do in the store. You help define our mission and focus on how we bring good food to you. So please take a moment to help us with the information we would like from you. Together we will continue to making this store your first choice for all your food needs and desires.
Here is to a healthy and safe 2021!
Chris Pepe – General Manager
NEWS FROM THE BOARD
Board of Directors Meeting
February our Board of Directors meeting is Tuesday the 9th. Meetings start at 6:30PM, and go until about 8:30PM. We will be meeting via zoom again this month, if you would like to attend, please email marketing@abundance.coop for the link and the agenda.
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