Find answers to commonly asked questions below.
April 26, 2024
Hello again, Co-op community!
After receiving a tremendous outpouring of support and understanding from our gracious community, we're excited to announce the details of our newly expanded Community Discount program at the Co-op. It’s designed to serve the diverse needs within our area, and we believe these changes will help us provide even greater access to quality food and daily essentials.
Here's what you need to know about the expanded Community Discount program:
Eligibility: The program is available to those who hold an EBT card, WIC card, most recent MassHealth eligibility letter, live in the Berkshire Housing properties, or have an Elder Services Farmers’ Market coupon booklet in July. If you have one of these forms of eligibility, you're qualified for the discount.
Discount Amount: Once enrolled in the program, you'll receive a 10% discount on your purchases at the Co-op. This discount applies to a wide range of products, helping you save on the items you need most. Some exclusions apply.
Sign-Up Process: To sign up for the Community Discount, simply fill out a sign up form and bring it, along with proof of eligibility, to a Customer Service Supervisor or Manager. They will help you complete the enrollment process. Card-holding Owners or Associates will have their discount activated on that card. Shoppers who are new to the program will receive a new card. Forms can be found in the front of the store.
Duration: The Community Discount requires renewal every year during the month of March, but it’s easy to renew it! All you’ll have to do to keep your discount each year with uninterrupted access is show proof of eligibility to a Customer Service Supervisor or Manager by March 31st.
We want to emphasize that maintaining this discount is an essential part of our commitment to equitable access and support of those in need. By continuing to offer the Community Discount, we align with our core values and mission to provide healthy, affordable food options for everyone, regardless of their circumstances. This program is just a small part of our dedication to making the Co-op a welcoming and inclusive place for all.
We understand that these details may raise questions. Please feel free to reach out to us if you need assistance with the sign-up process or have any other questions.
Your continued loyalty and patronage mean everything to us. The best way to support us through this is by shopping here and bringing your friends. Show them how big of a role your Co-op plays in this community! By doing that, you're helping ensure our Co-op remains a vibrant presence for generations to come.
Thank you for continuing to be a valued and active part of our Co-op family.
Jessica Bosworth
General Manager
jbosworth@berkshire.coop
Phyllis Webb
Board President
pwebb@berkshire.coop
April 9, 2024
To our valued shoppers:
With sincerity and a deep sense of responsibility, we reach out to you today to share some important updates about the future of our beloved Co-op. Effective May 1, we will be removing the Senior Discount and Monthly Owner Discount. To better serve the diverse needs of our community, shoppers who qualify will have access to an expanded Community Discount.
We understand that this change may be disappointing for some, and we want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly. However, in order to maintain the financial health of our Co-op, we must focus our discount dollars in a more sustainable way, while reaching as much of our community as possible.
As a community-owned organization committed to the well-being of our shoppers and equitable access to quality food, we're at a crucial juncture due to significant financial challenges. Our valued Senior Discount and Monthly Owner Discount, costing over $33k per month, have become financially unsustainable. As stewards of our Co-op, facing these realities means making tough decisions to ensure our longevity and resilience.
Our commitment to accessibility and community support remains unwavering. This expanded Community Discount will continue to be available to valid SNAP cardholders, and will newly include additional qualifiers. We will communicate further details as May 1 approaches.
We recognize that needs-based discounts are a sensitive topic, and we want to assure you that we will make the transition as smooth as possible. A sign-up form will be made available shortly for those who would like it.
Furthermore, we are fortifying our Owner Deals program to continue offering savings to our valued Owners. Based on findings from our data analysis, we are optimizing this program to focus on items that you purchase regularly, ensuring that our Owners continue to receive meaningful benefits.
In the face of these changes, we ask for your support and understanding. Your continued patronage and engagement are crucial as we navigate these challenging times together. By shopping at the Co-op and spreading the word to your friends and family, you are helping to ensure the sustainability of our Co-op for generations to come.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication to our Co-op.
Jessica Bosworth
General Manager
jbosworth@berkshire.coop
Phyllis Webb
Board President
pwebb@berkshire.coop
FAQs
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You need to have your Co-op issued discount card with you to use your discount.
Only the cardholder can use the discount. Do not share it with anyone.
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Yes! Keep shopping here! Trust us with more of your grocery dollars! Convince your friends and family to shop here too! In all seriousness, though, if you really want to help us cut down our costs, use cash or check at the register to help us reduce our credit card fees. Or, if you’re an Owner, use your prepaid Owner tab!! Those things really help.
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Making good food accessible for everyone is part of our mission. It’s a core value in our operation and a huge reason why we’re here. So, we’re simply reallocating some of the money we’re saving by discontinuing the Senior and Monthly Owner discounts to make sure more families can shop here. We even heard from one family that this update means they can finally shop here comfortably after years of not being able to!
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We currently rent three spaces on the floor above the Co-op. One of them is the Attic. The other two went through many iterations of what could be created, from a teaching kitchen to a coworking space, to offices for our staff. Unfortunately, we can’t currently afford to do anything meaningful with those spaces. Previous management had rolled the leases for the 3 suites upstairs into our standing lease for the Co-op. So as of now we are locked into these spaces until 2039. Know anyone who would sublease it from us? Let us know!
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We will be sending out information soon about who will qualify for the discount. But signing up will be so easy! All you’ll have to do is fill out the form next time you’re in the store, and show a Customer Service Supervisor or Manager your proof of qualification. Then you’re all set! Owners or Associates will have their discount attached to their existing card. Non-owners will be issued a card with their discount.
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We did look at many other options and combinations of options during our planning, including cutting just one senior day, before coming to this decision, which, as you read, was not easy. Ultimately, our choice was between eliminating both the Senior and Monthly Owner Discounts, or face a very real likelihood of closing our doors. It's drastic, yes, but the other option is to significantly cut our valuable staff, which we are simply not willing to do.
The good news, though, is that, like you read in the letter, we are expanding the qualifiers of our Community Discount to encompass more people and more definitions of need. We're actually putting a lot of effort into identifying qualifiers specifically for seniors who truly need the discount. We see the need and we're doing our best to accommodate.
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Owners are still the only ones who have access to our Buying Club, Owner Deals, and prepaid Owner Tabs. Those are the three most popular benefits of ownership at our Co-op. The other benefits include a vote in our election and the ability to run for the Board of Directors.
Our Owner Deals program is currently being fortified to include the most commonly purchased items, in an effort to position the program as more of a financial benefit to Owners by putting your favorite things on sale just for you.
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Nope! Veterans will still be able to receive 10% off with their ID, and anyone anytime can get 5% off items they buy in their own containers (like bulk items, hot bar, etc).
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Rest assured, seniors in need of assistance in order to access the fresh healthy foods on our shelves will still be able to apply for the newly expanded Community Discount. We are doing extra work to research qualifications that will specifically include seniors in need.
We appreciate the ongoing support and understanding from the rest of the community that doesn’t need the discount to shop here. Your willingness to prioritize the needs of the broader community over individual preferences is greatly appreciated.
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Yes, both our staff and our Board members receive a discount at our store in exchange for the hard work and time they put in every single day in order to make the store shoppable for you and our other customers. We will not be discontinuing their discounts. Even so, despite doing all the work to keep the Co-op going, many of our staff and Board members have offered to forgo their discount.
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Well, to be honest, that sucks. We understand this change can be disappointing. It hurts to hear that in this challenging time when we need the support of our community more than ever, you’re choosing to take your business elsewhere. But we do respect your decision and wish you all the best. We hope, though, that you’ll reconsider in the future.
For Owners who didn’t get a chance to hear an update from Jessica about our finances at our Annual Meeting of Owners in October 2023, you can find that information here.