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• "I heard a strange story from a Mahoney garbage person regarding the co-op's disposal of " a lot of cold product" into the garbage. What happened"

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• " As a former employee, well aware of our financial situation prior to new management. I could see many ways that adjustments could have been made without letting long time employees go for cheaper less experienced staff. Since my departure I had to stop my previously frequent shops because it broke my heart to see a community that I poured 13 years of my life into decline. Where is the life and the vibrance? I really miss the pre-remodel market that had enough produce space, the hand made informational signs, cashiers who just magically knew your number, and the Caesar Chavez! (Who knew grapefruit on a sandwich)"

 

• "I am a long time coop member. Was there a mailing list inviting members to the Bayport meeting? I never received notice of this meeting. I rely on the coop for most of my groceries, but am saddened by all the single-use plastics used for packaging bulk foods. How can I get on a mailing list to protect the coop?"

 

• "I spent at least $40 snd often $80-100 each Tuesday when there was a Senior discount. I now rarely go to the market. Many friends tell me the same. It is my belief the new CEO has ‘shot the market in the foot’ by discontinuing the senior discount."

 

• "My family member was hired before the ‘long termers’ left. Was treated with understanding and allowed to sit between customers and quickly chew a couple of nuts to keep blood sugar up. Not so anymore. Consideration for employees is fading fast- the ‘family feel’ quickly disappearing under new management. Also when enquiring about organic buns (no longer being carried) I was told by GM that the ‘all natural’ ones are just as good. It’s shocking that the GENERAL MANAGER needs educating about the differences and impact of non-organic vs organic. Very disappointed."

 

• "As a local I count on the co op to provide local free range meat for my family . It is sad to see the selection diminish. Also I have noticed a woman with dark hair and frankly she made me feel uncomfortable when I was chatting with a cashier after checking out. We haven’t seen each other in a long time and we’re just catching up for a minute. There was no one behind us waiting.Good customer service is one reason I go to the co op . She sat and stared at us about3 feet away or like 2 minutes it was super uncomfortable."

 

• "Middle finger to your 1% back "exciting program," I'll get a visa card with 2% back and order from Thrive Market."

 

• "Co-op's should be the year-round farmers market. How many local products are at the River Market again? And I'm not just talking produce." 

 

• "Where was our local co-op during National Night Out? I saw other co-ops offering meal kits for order prior to the big neighborhood gathering, maybe I missed our market celebrating this event with the community."

 

•  "For the number of infrequent times as a local owner I'd pop into the store, it was guaranteed to see the GM at least once a month roaming around shaking hands and giving thanks. The new GM seems to never be "roaming and engaging" like Mead used to do. Now I am encouraged to write my comments down and allow them to go into the abyss."

 

• "We moved downtown last year, and looked forward to walking to River Market to grab dinner on occasion. The food and meal selection is simply unappealing. We love organic, but much of the food is unappetizing, too strange/"exotic", and way too far off mainstream. We don't want another Cub, but, for example, some packaged dinner salads with greens, fruit, nuts, cheese, and dressing would be welcome. Hot entrees that are organic but more recognizable would bring us in more often, too. It's as if somone is just trying too hard to be unique."

 

• "Since the co-op moved to main street, have felt that it is similar to other grocery stores. Ending senior and other discounts just made it more in my face. Doesn't feel or offer anything I can't get cheaper and somewhere else. Kowalskis carries what I need on a regular basis and mississippi market on seventh has my once a month needs (and nice to visit the coffee shops on 7th with friends). Market co-op gets my business if I need something and for the last two months it has been one stop when I misunderstood one of the changes."

 

• "RM is in decline due to outside consultants.You spent 1 million to add a salad and burrito bar to an existing deli and reduced the size of the produce section.A ten year old could come up with these ideas.Now I watch you blanket the store with crappy product like Field Day and get rid of many of the local producers.You are turning this Coop into a big box store model.I can imagine how poorly you are treating the employees,It’s all over their faces when I walk thru the door.I would like to see the ownership turned over to the employees and get rid of this management and outside consulting firm."

 

• "Please return the co-op to its original values and integrity. As a member for over 20 years, I have noticed that the coop is not the same place as it once was for a variety of reasons, such as the extreme turnover of staff, change in the environmentally sustainable products, and the removal of the members monthly discount. As a community member, I am deeply concerned about the co-op."

 

 

• "We hear more and more that when you believe in something you should show it by voting with your dollar. What happens when the River Market becomes like every other store out there? We are already losing the community element, so why seek out the co-op when I can have the same things delivered free to my home, often at a much better price?" 

 

• "Our humble store has the potential to be the talk of the town, why are we working to remove our uniqueness?"

 

• "What's with the changing of the guards?? Where are the familiar faces???"

 

• "No one cares what the customer's want"

 

• "Bulk tea disappointed on not having more options. That's why I came. So disappointed and sad"

 

• "This may be another one of those times we need to think of future generations"

 

This owner comment is from the June 2019 board meeting, where an owner expressed the following concerns...

• “Good evening. In the interests of expediency, I’d like to read some prepared remarks as a function of the recent letter from General Manager Evan. My wife and I are member-owners, C Share investors, and loyal River Market shoppers with a vested interest and enthusiastic desire for the success of River Market. However, since December 2018 we have been reading and experiencing some issues that may have a broader reach than appears on the fiscal surface. In December our dividend Check was delayed with no initial explanation. This had never happened since the inception of the C Share program in December 2013 and triggered my call to Evan. I was informed about a ‘cash crunch’ and the concept of delayed payments. As a point of consideration, in the investment world delayed dividend payments are generally not viewed as a positive Investment Metric. In January/February we received a letter from the board chair which brought up some more questions. Recently we received a letter about the suspension of the Senior Discount, embedded in words such as financial peril, not sustainable, inequitable, and the replacement with a minimal 1% discount program. Also, it was stated that“... discounts are growing more rapidly than our sales”. How does this work when discounts are a percentage of sales? If sales go down how can discounts go up?? Just a question. This inspired me to read the BOD Minutes from November 2018 forward and I noticed additional fiscal terminology such as: Emergency Funding; Postpone Dividends; Delay Dividends; Not paying Dividends; Exploring other opportunities; Equity Funds Available; Using Line of Credit; Is the staff aware of the financial situation? When one considers the following: $277,000 in C Shares @ a 5% Dividend rate that EQUALS $13,850/year along with a monthly evaluation for payment, no doubt based on cash flow. Senior discounts at $42,000 per year, as interpolated off the chart in the recent letter, being discontinued. That means $55,850 per year, $4654 per month, $1164 per week and $155 per day represent some critical calculations. If this is the case: Where should our confidence level be in the viability of the C Share liquidity schedule? What is the balance between increasing sales via volume and pricing, reducing costs, all within the parameters of an estimated 2%, 3% or 4% margin? It seems counter-intuitive that a store such as River Market, located in the thriving community of Stillwater within a thriving economy would have to resort to solving its fiscal issues in the manner explained in the letter. Saving your way to success is a very steep curve. It’s should be about sales and getting as many buyers in the door as often as possible and incentivizing them to spend their dollars on a wide variety of products at the shortest inventory absorption rate. Now and then we shop at the Viroqua Coop in Viroqua WI and they appear to be thriving, growing and having an impact on the community. No doubt there are others doing well also. Would it be a consideration to study their business model and see what has been working for them? These comments are solely driven by letters, BOD Minutes, DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER OWNER/MEMBERS, observations of product availability, variety and diversity on the shelves, the mood in the store and overall business climate, but in my opinion, they are the ‘canary in the coal mine’.There is a deeper financial fragility that only can be solved with increasing sales, rather than potentially reducing sales by dis-incentivizing the very customers, namely the seniors, that add significantly to your sales volume and no doubt contributed significantly to the C Share fundraising campaign. The Law of Unintended Consequences may not look favorably on this business strategy. If this strategy does not work:   What is the status of the C Shares in terms of liquidity? What is your next step? Thank you for your time."

 

• "We should be writing the Board of Directors, and let them know how displeased we are with the new GM & the changes he is implementing"

 

• "For me, one of my favorite things about the co-op was how friendly the employees were, and they treated you like Family. They remembered if you were sick, or going on vacation, and inquired how you were doing."

 

• "A large number of my friends (and me) are distressed to hear that you are "letting" some of your long-time employees "go". If you can't be loyal to them, how can we be loyal to you?"

 

• "So sad that bulk is getting cut back. I can remember between buying bulk and produce I brought home zero waste from my shopping trip."