Customer Comments 12/26/19
Grocery
Customer Question: Si Martino tortelloni is out of stock, and has been, can you have more on reserve so the shelf isn’t bare.
Co-op Answer: Thank you for your input! I apologize for the inconvenience – it was on back order from the distributor. It is in stock now. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: Need smoked paprika.
A: Thank you for your input! We do carry smoked paprika in our jarred spices section. Please ask any of our staff if you need help locating it. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: I would love it if you all would carry plain roasted chicory root in the spices section or the coffee section. Thanks so much!
A: Thank you for your input! Unfortunately, I am not finding any pure chicory root in our catalogs – I will pass this message along to our bulk buyers in case they have something. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: Lotus Foods Rice heat and eat – good product – I have to go to NH to the Hanover Co-op to get this product – good, fast food! By the way, Shaw’s has a brand (not jasmine).
A: Thank you for your input! We do carry Lundberg Ready to Heat rice options, which are very similar to this, but I will definitely look into this item as well. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: Please carry probiotic Yogi tea or vanilla energy. Some other caffeinated Yogi tea please!
A: Thank you for your input! We do carry Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy from Yogi, which has black tea and Yerba Mate. Please let me know if that fits what you were looking for. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: Chameleon Cold Brew is catching on as home fast item for those of us who do not have espresso. Glass bottles are good. At least carry espresso display by bakery.
A: Thank you for your input! Unfortunately, we tried this item in the past and it was not a strong seller for us. I would recommend our cold brew coffee on tap (with the kombuchas) in bulk. There are glass jars available there and it is a wonderful, strong coffee. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: Cold brew Chameleon brand espresso at least. These are catching on for home use. V. good in glass.
A: Thank you for your input! Unfortunately, none of this brand sold very well for us. We generally haven’t had luck with glass cold brews. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: Vegan egg replacer (mung bean). Frozen spirulina.
A: Thank you for your input! We do currently carry EnerG brand vegan egg replacer – it is in our bakery section. I will pass along the suggestion to our bulk buyers about the mung beans. Frozen sprirulina – I will try to find a distributor who has this. It seems like something we would want to try but it isn’t popping up in any distributor’s catalogs. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: Organic elderberry juice please!
A: Thank you for your input. I will add this to our list of products to add for January. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: Can you please carry Kosher foods.
A: Thank you for your input! Many of the brands we carry are Kosher certified. Please let me know if there are specific brands or Kosher versions of specific products you are looking for. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: Could you get more variety in the kombucha brands?
A: Thank you. Please let me know if there are any specific flavors or brands you are looking for – we will do a review and reset of our drink cooler in April and I am always excited to try something new. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: Switch out some kevita flavors please.
A: Thank you for your input! We will do a review of our drink cooler in April and I will review our Kevita set and flavors at that time. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: I would like you to carry gluten free bread crumbs that do not have sugar added or extra packaging (the only 2 varieties you currently carry). Ian’s band of Panko gluten free bread crumbs is very good. Thank you.
Q: Price same/similar products by same unit to allow for $ comparison – e.g. by the qt or by the lb, but not both.
A: Thank you for your input! Unfortunately this is a law we have to follow – if the packaging is labeled as fluid ounces, we have to price it by the quart and if the packaging is listed by net weight or dry ounces we have to price it by the pound. I apologize for the inconvenience. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: I would like you to carry gluten free bread crumbs that do not have sugar added or extra packaging (the only two varieties that you currently carry!) Ian’s brand of panko gluten free bread crumbs is very good. Thank you.
A: Thank you for your input! I will add the Ian’s panko GF option to out set in January. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: Flatbread pepperoni! + bacon I think.
A: Thank you for your suggestion! Unfortunately, we did carry this product last year but it was dropped by out distributor and we have not found an alternative distributor for these styles of American Flatbread. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Q: Please stock Oatly milk . Thanks!
A: Thank you for your input! Oatly consistently experiences production shortages and gives significant preference to Whole Foods when this happens, so I am not excited to work with with this brand. We do carry Silk, Califia, Elmhurst, and Pacific brands for oat milks. You may also special order Oatly by the case and receive a case discount. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
Food Services
Q: Any chance of adding a light coffee to be served in the deli?
A: Perhaps, we have limited space but I am open to eliminating one of the other options – suggestions? -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Light coffee in pots in deli, thanks.
A: We currently don’t have room to add another pot – do you have a suggestion on which we should eliminate? -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Please get a new decaf urn – decaf is frequently cold. Thank you!
A: Ordering it today! -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: The dinner at the annual meeting was nice but the Mediterranean was more appropriate for warmer weather – previous years with pulled pork and something else warm was more popular.
A: Thanks for your feedback, we like to change it up regularly. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Tuna melts on the hot bar – awesome. Way to switch it up.
A: They sure were! Thanks for the shout out! -Doug, Prepared Foods Buyer
Q: Different soup choices at the salad bar please.
A: What would you like to see that you aren’t seeing? Please see me in the deli and we can chat about it. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: I would like more variety on the salad/soup bar. So many good soups to make, why always the same?
A: The soups are actually from Joe’s Soup and we order what he has available and what people have told us they typically enjoy. Any specific one(s) you’d like to see? Please stop by the deli and chat with me! -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Would be great if some for the “noddley” dishes in the food bar were made with gf noodles sometimes.
A: We do lasagna with gf pasta but many of the other dishes don’t lend themselves to gf pasta in a steam pan as the pasta gets compromised. Mac and cheese might work though. I’ll test it! -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: I love your salad bar. The tahini dressing is too thick for the serving container it is in. Help 🙂
A: Thanks for the feedback – thinner sounds like a winner. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Since ceramic coffee mugs hold same volume as small soup container, how about allowing us to use ceramic mugs if we’re eating small soup here? Less disposable container use, good for environment…you know the drill.
A: It IS allowed. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Bring back Applegate roast beef or make one in house. Thank you!
A: Do you mean McKenzie roast beef? We haven’t served Applegate since I have been here (6 years) except a time or two when it accidentally showed up! -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Deli – please post actual ingredients in tea bags (singles). Thanks!
A: We will and are working on a process to do this with our new display. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Please start carrying: Pirro’s pasta sauces and Alvera roll deodorant. Thank you for your suggestion!
A: Pirro’s pasta sauces are not currently carried by any of our distributors. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer
A: Thanks for the deodorant suggestion. We will look at bringing this in when we review this category. -Laura, Wellness Manager
Q: Wondering why the deli has tea bags available in nylon/plastic bags? Studies have shown that the plastic ends up in your blood stream!
A: They are not nylon/plastic but plant based – biodegradable – check their website. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Today, again, 3 full trays of muffins and no scones. Why?
A: What time of day was this? -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Can you put cookies on the hot bar?
A: I am sorry but I don’t understand/can’t make out your writing. Please talk to me about this. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Once again, no scones and plenty of three kinds of muffins. How about two kinds of scones? At least one without chocolate chips or cheese.
A: What time of the day is this that you are experiencing? Please come talk to me about this. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Great to have orange root veggies as an alternative to grain. Please, though, keep having plain green hot veg.
A: Will do. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Hello! This is a a shout out of appreciation for the kind folks behind the deli counter who make fantastic sandwiches for us. In particular, Megan, Princess Kate and Marcus have done an excellent job of listing to what’s asked for and delivering just that, while being so warm, pleasant, kind and fun! I especially appreciate that they remember special dietary restrictions of our family members. The food is good, this often becomes our preferred “eating out” destination. Thank you!
A: Thanks for the love – the staff were very encouraged to hear their efforts are appreciated. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Please bring back smaller prepared salmon ($6.50 – $7.50) for us one person eaters. Thanks!
A: Will do. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Can you please make some prepared salads, i.e. chicken or tuna, w/out onions? Thank you!
A: Which one of these would you prefer that way? Come see me. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Please get new coffee pot for Decaf. The current pot is dented and the decaf is cold. Thank you.
A: Done! -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
Q: Thank you for having dal. Can we do it everyday?
A: I think we would have to continue to offer as much variety as possible. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager
General
Q: I strongly support the employees and hope that they and management can come to an agreement on their contract. Also, I’m opposed to a second store.
A: Thank you. We did reach agreement on a new 3-year contract. -Kari, General Manager
Q: Fewer large carts and more small ones might help small shoppers. Thanks for considering the idea.
A: Thank you for your suggestion. We are considering adding some smaller ones next year. -Mary, Facilities Manager
Q: The work floor is not the place to discuss the union.
A: My apologies. Our goal is to provide every customer with an excellent co-op experience. -Kari, General Manager
Q: This is such a great place. I know it takes a lot to keep it going, thank you!
A: Thank you! -Kari, General Manager
Q: There must be a way to reduce plastic packaging – cream cheese, baked goods, etc!
A: There are definitely things we ca do as a community. Co-op staff are considering new programs and encouraging suppliers to change. Shoppers can emphasize bulk and reusable materials in what we purchase. -Kari, General Manger
Q: No contract=no business from me. Settle!
A: Thanks. We did reach agreement on a new contract. -Kari, General Manager
Q: Kari- you really need to pay your employees a fair living wage in alignment with what management earns.
A: Thanks. The Co-op does pay the Vermont Livable Wage to all employees with at least 6 months tenure, to go with a best-in-class benefit package. Our wage and salary scales are based in part on duties and responsibilities and this extends to all employees. -Kari, General Manager
Q: Give your workers a fair contract!
A: We did reach an agreement on a new 3 year contract. -Kari, General Manager
Q: Plants in dining area need a little love.
A: Yes, you’re right! Looks like they were missed in the recent waterings. They have had a goof soak and we will keep a closer eye on them. -Mary, Facilities Manager