Grocery

Customer Question: Why is Saratoga sparkling water consistently out of stock? It regularly sells out in two days! Can we keep an extra case on retainer?
Co-op Answer: Thank you for your input! This product is stocked for us by our distributor. I will check in with them about keeping more on hand so that we don’t run into these out of stock issues. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Diamond kosher salt in smaller containers, please! The cylindrical container with the shaker is great. Thanks.
A: Thank you for your input! Unfortunately, none of our current distributors carry this smaller size of Diamond kosher salt containers. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Could you please carry Live Soda (kombucha) made in Austin, TX? The cherry cola flavor especially. Cola is also great.
A: Thank you for your input. This brand looks amazing. I have checked it out at other stores. Our drink cooler is generally at capacity with products, but certainly we will look to make space for this product when we next reset our drink cooler. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: How come you no longer carry Cyrus Pringle sliced bread?
A: Thank you for your input! From what I can tell from our sales history, we are still carrying this product. Products on the bread racks move around and switch placement often, so we would be happy to help you find it in the future. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Please carry Lay’s natural potato chips – thank you.
A: Thank you for your input! It does not appear that this brand is currently carried by any of the distributors we work with, so we are unable to bring this product in. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Please keep carrying the only ice cream I can eat: So Delicious Butter Pecan. It is great!
A: Thank you for your input! I’m glad you enjoy this product and that we can provide an ice cream you can enjoy. We will certainly continue to carry this item as long as it continues to sell well for us. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Other Drew’s dressing flavors, especially sesame orange ginger.
A: Thank you for your input! At this point, our dressing set is too full to add in new flavors, but I will certainly consider adding these flavors when we next review this set in our store. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Please consider reducing the standard margin/mark up on Butterworks Farm yogurts during this time of financial restructuring of the farm. I am concerned that the large price increase will cause a loss in sales, making the situation worse.
A: Thank you for your input. We have significantly reduced our margin on this brand when we updated our pricing, based on the cost increases. I am also very concerned how this price increase will affect a favorite, local brand and we are trying to mitigate these effects without losing money. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Is there a more affordable pasta? Very expensive for lower incomes.
A: Thank you for your input! Have you checked out the Field Day brand pasta? They are organic pasta in 1 lb bags for only $1.99. Our Bionaturae organic pastas also regularly go on sale for 2/$4 or $2.29. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Please eliminate tetrapak products – it is not recyclable in VT and you currently offer non tetrapak options for every product.
A: Thank you for your input! I certainly give preference to product that comes in recyclable and compostable packaging options. However, currently many of our best selling brands come in tetrapaks, so we are unable to eliminate them entirely. My hope is that Vermont will join the many other states that do recycle tetrapaks. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Ritter Sport has a new bar with dark chocolate and no nuts.
A: Thank you for your input! I will check out their new flavors and add them to the set. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: I am in deep mourning for the disappearance of the corn cakes as alternative to rice cakes. Any chance of a return?
A: Thank you for your input! Unfortunately, these items just didn’t sell well for us and were eliminated during a category review. I am looking for other options for this set that may do better in our store. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Food Services

Q: Deli counter staff is out of control. Always rude! Seriously enough, drop the attitude. Except the guy who works mornings with the glasses and the hat – super nice.
A: I am so sorry to hear that and would welcome the opportunity to discuss any specific incidents with you. Please reach out to me. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: Oatmeal on weekends, please!
A: Done! -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: The red-cooked pork in the deli today was amazing! Thanks!
A: That is a favorite! Thanks. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: Why is there no sushi on Saturday/Sunday? It consistently sells out during the week and when it’s served on weekends?
A: It is a very labor intensive program and often the staffing challenges we face with the rest of the industry causes us to have to prioritize offerings on the weekends, regretfully, though it is our standard to offer this daily. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: In the past, cookies were almost always available in the evening. Now they are rarely available in the evening. (Chocolate chip and ginger in the bakery case).
A: Thanks for the feedback. We will and continue to monitor this and adjust production to meet your needs. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: Please – vegan tempeh reuben in cafe?
A: That sounds like a winner – there will be a menu revamp this year and that sounds like a no-brainer! -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

General

Q: Please enclose the dairy cases to conserve energy and make that aisle more comfortable.
A: I agree, we are currently considering that for our next cooler case replacement. One of the concerns that has popped up with that idea is possible increased congestion in the aisle as a result. We are researching what other stores have done with similar aisle widths. Thank you very much for your suggestion. -Mary, Facilities Manager

Q: I see the trash can is gone – but perhaps you could post as to why, so people know also? Person eat lunches at picnic tables then will bring trash inside?
A: Thanks fo the suggestion. There are trash and recycling bins in the exit way which can be used for that purpose. We removed the outside receptacle because it was being widely used to dump personal trash/recycling. Thanks. -Mary, Facilities Manager

Q: Please put trash recycling back out front. Now there is no place to put recycling.
A: We do not plan to replace the trash and recycling receptacle because we had so many people dumping their personal trash/recycling, but we have put a recycling bin near the exit. Thanks. -Mary, Facilities Manager

Q: Please provide a recycle bin in the lobby (near check-out) for member (and shopper) use, now that the outdoor trash/recycling bin has been removed. Thank you!
A: It is in place, thanks for the suggestion. -Mary, Facilities Manager

Q: I think a mural on the cinder block wall on the back patio wall would be a great idea.
A: Thanks. We are going to evaluate whether we can and want to enclose the deck first. If not, a mural or a green/living wall would be good options. -Kari, General Manager

Q: If management proposes to give themselves a raise, why not give all the staff / employees the same percentage raise at the same time.
A: Actually, managers generally receive a smaller percent increase than other employees. The CO-op and employee’s union are currently bargaining wage increases. The Co-op’s last offer was an average annual increase of 3.4% (while staying open on memorial day). The union’s last proposal was for a 4.6% average increase. -Kari, General Manager