Grocery

Customer Question: Please get Brave coffee in decaf.
Co-op Answer: Thank you for your input! The decaf options are always our slowest selling versions for our coffees. I would not wan to cut into faster sellers as the set is completely full. However, you can still special order this item by the case (3 bags) and receive a special order discount. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Traditional Medicinals mother’s milk tea.
A: Thank you for your input! We will bring this product in as there is space in the set to try new flavors. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Please stock Wild Brine double fermented kimchi hot sauce.
A: Thank you for your input! We have tried several fermented hot sauces in the past and unfortunately they just don’t sell well. Should space open up in our fermented set, I will certainly consider this category again. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Can you carry wasabi flavored rice crackers or a wasabi gluten free option? Thanks!
A: Thank you! I will bring in the wasabi flavored seaweed snakes that I had been looking at for our store. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Those good crisp potato chips in that tube packaging are obscene.
A: Thank you for your input! I appreciate your input. We certainly consider packaging when we bring in products but not everything we carry is perfect in that respect. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Please consider carrying products from Rise Up Bakery in Barre. Local and yummy!
A: Thank you for your input! Rise Up Bakery is at the top of my list should space open up in our bakery set. Their product is wonderful! -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Please carry Rise up Bakery bread – at least two days a week! I always see room on the shelves. It’s great local bread.
A: Thank you for your input! I think Rise Up is a wonderful business with a great product that I would happily bring in if there was space. The empty shelves you see are already designated to other local bread bakers – we have attempted shared space in the past and it was incredibly unsuccessful for both bakeries. If space ever opens up, I will happily bring in Rise Up – they are at the top of my list! -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Wellness

Q: Please contact me when you’re able to get Sustain Natural Condoms in again. Comfort fit version preferably. Thanks!
A: Thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately, Sustain is no longer available through our distributor. -Laura, Wellness Manager

Q: Can you please start carrying Heritage Store’s Rose Water Facial Toner?
A: Great suggestion. We will look to bring this in. -Laura, Wellness Manager

Q: Please find and carry plastic free options, especially personal care. There are so many great new companies and I would rather find them here than buy online.
A: Thank you for your comment and your desire to offer plastic free options. We offer a variety of Glad Rags, as well as a number of shampoo bars, soap bars and tooth powder. If you would like more information, please let me know. -Laura, Wellness Manager

Q: Little Seed Farm makes a wonderful natural deodorant cream that they sell in bulk buckets to stores. Please look into carrying their deodorant.
A: Thank for your suggestion. At this time, Little Seed Farm products are not available through our distributors. -Laura, Wellness Manager

Q: Customer product request. Shampoo bar – no plastic packaging.
A: This looks like a great product. Unfortunately, it is not available through our distributors. We have shampoo bars from Just Soap and Badgers. Those products have no plastic packaging. -Laura, Wellness Manager

Q: Please carry facial cleansing cream for dry or mature skin.
A: Some options that we carry include: Suki moisture rich cleansing lotion and Derma E hydrating gentle cleaners. Feel free to ask Wellness staff for assstance if you need help finding them. -Laura, Wellness Manager

Food Services

Q: Red Wine Choice – La Valentina – Montepulciano de Abruzzo! Get this! It’s a winner!
A: Unfortunately this yummy wine from Abruzzo is not distributed in stores here. However, stop over and ask for me – I’ll show you some other yummy wines from Abruzzo. Cheers! -Lydia, Wine Assistant

General

Q: Please add a clock at the end of the courtesy desk on the flat pillar wall above to-go flatware. Thanks.
A: Thank you for your suggestion. Have you noticed the clock on the side of the stairs at the end of the registers? We would prefer the clock to be visible to cashiers and customers alike. We would be happy to look into getting a larger clock so it is more noticeable when customers are checking out. -Alison, Assistant Front End Manager

Q: Friday Jan 17th, 3 degrees outside. Unbelievably cold by the registers. Not a good working environment for the employees or a comfortable space for members waiting in line.
A: Thank you. We have taken measures to maintain normal temps in the register area including a new heating unit last year. However, we do still have challenges on coldest days and times when doors are opening often. We did have a mechanical issue mid month. -Kari, General Manager

Q: I support the union and I was disappointed to read in The Bridge that rate of growth, not mere profitability, is the Co-op’s standard of financial viability. Growh is a problem in a period of clime crisis and economic inequality. Use the money for people!
A: Thank you for the comments. The Co-op invests heavily in our employee, paying a far larger share of our revenues towards wages and benefits compared to our peers. Of course resources are limited and we can only offer compensation increases that don’t risk our overall financial health. Profitability is limited by slower growth, less than 2% annual in the past few years. -Kari, General Manager

Q: Please come to Boston. We have no Co-op.
A: We were sorry to hear about the demise of Harvest Co-op. Thank you for the compliment. We are central VT based. -Kari, General Manager

Q: Can you track how much rounding up totals for members?
A: This report is available upon request through our Member Services team. -Giles, Systems Administrator

Q: Why do many of your cashiers and baggers load everything into one bag? This is very hard for elderly or disabled customers! Please be more aware!
A: We apologize for any unsatisfactory experiences you have had. Cashiers and baggers are trained to ask customers about their preferred weight distribution, but it sounds like some of us could use a brush up! If you have a preference for multiple lighter bags, please let your cashier or bagger know. Additionally, if you find that a packed bag is too heavy to comfortably lift, please speak up and we will be happy to repack these items to ease the load. The more we all communicate about these preferences, the more satisfying the outcome! -Alison, Assistant Front End Manager