The global pandemic has dramatically altered how grocery retailers approach all aspects of their business. As retail staff have turned much of their focus to daily operations to ensure their stores are staffed, stocked, and safe, formalized processes for strategic planning have taken a back seat for many leaders. But now is not the time to proceed without a plan.
Throughout the course of the pandemic, prepared foods departments were some of hardest-hit departments at grocery co-ops across the country. We connected with leaders in prepared foods to hear how they've adapted and advice they have for others.
Columinate is proud to welcome Dana Tomlin as a new consultant. Dana is a resourceful leader with extensive independent grocery experience, and as a consultant, she plans to utilize her experience and expertise to help organizations and stores both plan for the future and improve day-to-day operations.
With more than two decades of experience in wine, beer, and spirits, Columinate member-consultant Samuel Vandegrift regularly helps co-ops connect with customers and boost sales using everything from pricing strategies to in-store promotions and events. Sam has some key advice for what stores can do to bring joy and delight to their beverage departments.
It is well-known that the U.S. labor market has been especially volatile this year. Co-ops are not immune from this. To learn more about the current co-op hiring environment, we connected with Columinate member-consultants Melanie Reid and Carolee Colter.
During times of transition, Columinate's interim General Managers (IGMs) have helped co-ops stabilize and implement lasting change. IGM and Columinate consultant Scot Destasio had a transformative impact at the Old Creamery Cooperative, located in a traditional "Hilltown" in Western Massachusetts.
When co-ops enter a time of transition, they can turn to Columinate's group of experts available for contract management services. These folks step in as Interim General Managers (IGMs) to work fast and smart, implementing lasting change for their clients. Ranging from a few months to a few years, IGM engagements are meant to bridge a co-op from Point A to Point B.
If you are like most Americans, your shopping patterns - as well as your customers’ habits - have changed drastically in the past several weeks. More people are buying fresh produce to stay healthy, and for good reason: a diet that includes lots of fresh organic produce is a great way to keep your immune systems strong in these uncertain times.
So much is changing so quickly right now, and our co-ops are uniquely positioned to serve our owners and community today, and be practical alternatives to 'business -as-usual' in the future. We don't have a crystal ball to see that future, but we can discuss together how our co-ops can have a larger role and how we can talk about our co-ops as important parts of a better society.
Financial health is the backbone of a successful co-op. Like every other part, it’s twisting and turning during the current pandemic. “Things are changing really fast,” says feasibility and project development consultant Don Moffitt. “I’m not sure that anybody knows exactly what they need to be doing right now.”
