Grocery

Customer Question: Wondering if you are still intending to carry Siggis Kefir? Got a response of yes a few months ago but none on shelf yet? Thanks.
Co-op Answer: Thank you for your input! You’re right, we are bringing this product in. I’m sorry for the delay on this – Siggis will be sending us our first cases in September, so it should be on the shelf soon. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Weetabix biscuits? Low sugar!
A: Thank you for your input! I will certainly keep this brand in mind for the next time we reset the cereal set! -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: For those who are both celiac and vegan, please offer some gluten-free, vegan bread. There are several brands to choose from, as rival stores can attest.
A: Thank you for your input! We are planing to bring in the Food for Life vegan options, but because our shelves are completely full, it takes some time to bring new frozen bread in. As soon as we have completed a review and find space we will get this on the shelf. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: I wanted to make a suggestion to carry middle eastern tahini. I know that there is a handful of people just that I know that would buy it. Brands like Alwadi or Alkanat. Not exactly sure on the spelling…there are lots of brands – you can give me a call and I can do a survey of what everyone likes best by the time you call.
A: Thank you for your input! I am unfortunately not seeing either of these brands available from any of our distributors. I will definitely keep my eyes out. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: 3 Twins Ice Cream cones – yummy!
A: Thank you for your input! I will have to check these out – we haven’t been thrilled with the Let’s Do Organic brand and these look like a great alternative. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: More nut-free granola and muesli please.
A: Thank you for your input! So much of our granola is local, but I will certainly reach out to our local producers about nut free options. I am not currently seeing a nut free muesli available, but I will keep my eyes out! -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Dang sticky rice chips – horrible. Taste like old grease. No defining differences between varieties. High sat. fat and have palm fruit oil.
A: Thank you for your input! I’m sorry the Dang Chips weren’t for you. They do sell well for us, so some of our customers do enjoy them. Please let me know if there is another brand you would like us to check out or possibly bring in. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Please please please get nut free cake mixes.
A: Thank you for your input! Unfortunately, right after we brought the Cherrybrook Kitchen back in our distributor dropped it. I am searching for a replacement but there are currently none on the market. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Can you please carry Carrier’s decaf coffee. You only have caf and uncommon market has it too but no decaf either.
A: Thank you for your input! I hadn’t seen any of their decaf options so I will have to check them out. If we feel like we can find room in the set and feel like the decaf is a good option, we will certainly bring it in. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Just wanted to say how great our new products by Vermont Bean Crafters are. Local, apple cider, organic. Wow! Thanks for stocking them.
A: Thank you for your input! I’m so glad you’re enjoying Vermont Bean Crafters. They are a wonderful local brand! -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Q: Ice cream is usually freezer-burned.
A: Thank you for your input! I will check in with our Grocery Managers to see if there are any handling practices we could improve upon to help prevent this. If you have any specific brands experiencing this issue, please let me know. -Olivia, Grocery Buyer

Wellness

Q: Pears transparent soap – cheap and good. So I don’t have to buy it from Amazon.
A: Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately we are not able to get this through our distributors but it looks like Dollar Tree in Barre and Walmart in Berlin carry it. -Laura, Wellness Manager

Q: Amazing Grass super food $34.95? I can go online and order it for $20 with free one day delivery.
A: I appreciate your comment and am aware of this. We are a small, local co-op and operate on a different scale than many online retailers. We offer 20% off on Wednesdays for vitamins and supplements and often offer additional sales. If you would like to discuss further please let me know. -Laura, Wellness Manager

Food Services

Q: Please keep eggs and potatoes free of meat (esp. chorizo and hot sauce). Otherwise, breakfast is great. Thanks.
A: I completely understand and appreciate this suggestion. This specific dish served when we do a Spanish style menu and potatoes/chorizo is a classic spanish tapas dish and very popular. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: Would love to see a seaweed salad.
A: We are working on something that may end up in grab and go in the coming months. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: In the summer months, 80s out today. Why not focus your Kitchen labor making cold salads in grab and go? Empty today! Not much in the mood for Hot Food really. How much of the hot food are you composting today? Income lost for HMC – so sad!
A: Thanks for the feedback – great suggestion. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: Please cook the tofu more – looks and tastes almost raw.
A: Tofu is a fully cooked product. We simply marinate/sear and bring it to a safe temperature. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: Why $4 for iced coffee? It’s pricier than anywhere else in town! Thanks.
A: Our coffee, cream, and sweeteners are all organic. This is likely not the case elsewhere in town. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: The green lettuce in the salad bar was all bruised today (July 27th). Should not be handled so rough!
A: Thanks for the feedback – we can and will do better. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

Q: Please – rhubarb pie in hot bar.
A: Thanks for the suggestion – perhaps next rhubarb season it will make an appearance. -Doug, Prepared Foods Manager

General

Q: How about donating the “round up” kitty to help the local homeless sometime? Not sure how/what could be done, but they sure need our help. Thank you.
A: Through our Give Change register round up program, we raised nearly $1,000 dollars for the Good Samaritan Haven this past winter. GSH provides beds, essential items to meet basic needs, and a wide variety of support services (employment,benefits, treatment, housing). The Co-op will be sponsoring their annual Local Solutions to End Homelessness event in the fall and GSH will be our Give Change recipient this coming February. -Stephani, Community Relations Manager

Q: The road into the parking lot from the road between Barre St and the bridge to the “highway” is in deplorable condition. Whose responsibility is it to maintain it?
A: I believe you are referring to Granite Street. That is the City’s responsibility. I will inquire if they plan to resurface it at the same time as Stonecutter’s Way this summer. -Kari, General Manager

Q: Music in the store please! It’s unpleasant without anything playing.
Q: Please play music on the speakers. It feels desolate and much less welcoming than it actually is without the musical ambiance.
A: Thank you for the comments. We revisited the idea of music at today’s management team meeting and decided against it. While there art times when music would be nice, I am sure that three would be disagreement over what to play when. Sometimes quiet is better. -Kari, General Manager

Q: Hello! is the filter at the water station expired? Thanks.
A: Thank you for your comment. Not sure when you wrote this, but yes, the water filter was changed on 7/29/19. Thanks! -Mary, Facilities Manager

Q: Make things more wheelchair friendly.
A: Please let us know what we can do in this regard. -Kari, General Manager