Competition Plus Innovation Equals Excellence
For many years GreenStar Natural Foods Market “peacefully coexisted” with its local competition in Ithaca, New York. As more conventional grocers are wooing the natural food consumer with convenience and price points, the pressure is [...]
Why Equity is Part of the Co-op Difference
Seward Co-op's GM, Sean Doyle, has a passion for finances, and he's here to share his passion with you! Sean discusses some unique lending avenues available to many co-ops and why equity may just be [...]
4 Pillars of Cooperative Governance Self-Assessment Tool
Boards can use this survey tool to do a broad, self-assessment of their own work. It utilizes the 4 Pillars of Co-op Governance as an organizing lens with some broad, key characteristics to fit under [...]
Co-ops THRIVING into the Future
Informed by the high-level perspective he has from working with a wide array of co-op boards throughout the U.S., Mark Goehring of CBLD fame, has some sage words for co-ops and cooperators everywhere. He breaks [...]
Community-Owned, That’s the Difference!
Sharon Murphy brings the motto of Whole Foods Co-op in Duluth, "Community Owned, that's the difference". Learn how WFC has been able to sustain growth and expansion in service to their community of owners. Store [...]
Understanding the Changing Landscape PRIVATE
Password protected. Please contact your CBLD consultant or NCG corridor advisor for the password. A public version is available here. Dave Olson has some important data to share with cooperators everywhere. In this dense 20-minute presentation [...]
Are you getting the most out of your management team meetings?
Look around your management team meeting. Is everyone engaged in the conversation? Or are they looking at their phones as the meeting winds its way through a parade of topics or check-ins? We invest payroll [...]
Featured Co-op Cafe Video: Theories of Participation
Theories of Participation Dan Arnett, general manager Central Co-op, Seattle, WA Theories of Participation Dan Arnett, general manager Central Co-op, Seattle, WA Dan Arnett shares his views on sustaining the cooperative [...]
Building a Strong Top Leadership Team: Creating and maintaining a healthy board-GM relationship
By Michael Healy 177 March-April 2015 In many co-ops, the manager and board of directors function effectively as a leadership team. Along with having systems and structures in place that support and encourage healthy [...]
Strategic Pricing: Why and how
By Mel Braverman, Jeanie Wells 177 March-April 2015 Almost every cooperative retail grocery is feeling increased competition in its community. Twenty years ago, merely having featured products consistently available was enough for co-ops to be [...]