Listening To Members

By Jack Stanton, Vice President, Wedge BOD

One of the many concerns the Wedge staff and board share is getting enough clear feedback from members on how we're doing as an organization—what members love about the Wedge and where they think we could improve. We're also interested in our members' perspectives on broader policy and organizational direction issues such as new initiatives, infrastructure investment choices, educational programs, charitable giving and much more.

As you may know, during the past year we've been surveying members on line and holding small group meetings upstairs at the Wedge. To date, we've held three group meetings with more to come this summer and fall.

Here's a recap of the consensus findings so far:

• To many members, the Wedge is much more than a grocery store: It's a community, a collaborative endeavor, something members feel they own and can take great pride in.
• The level of trust in what the store carries sets it apart from other places people shop. Members place tremendous faith in the Wedge product and know they can feel good about their grocery purchases.
• Most frequently cited concerns were travel distance from where members live to the store, concerns over rising food prices, logistical issues such as parking and space within the store and the fear that the increase in interest in organic and natural foods might somehow compromise the Wedge's current level of quality.
• Members said when they describe the Wedge to interested friends, their comments usually reflect the following three themes:
  1. product quality
  2. high knowledge level and helpfulness of the staff and
  3. the values that seem to drive the way the Wedge does things.
• When asked to make choices about how they would invest the Wedge's resources, the most frequently named options were
  1. Investing in expanding the local and regional food distribution network (our wholesales business) and in organic farmland.
  2. Expanding retail options such as on line ordering and additional locations.
  3. Ensure that Wedge is doing everything it can to "operate green."
  4. Increasing partnerships with non-profit organizations with missions related to agriculture, food and health and other issues related to our co-op's mission.
• Members wanted the Wedge to do everything it reasonably could to be as sustainable as possible and to offer the option of fair trade products when available.
• When asked to choose between lowering prices and increasing compensation and training for the Wedge staff, members were about evenly divided, with all agreeing that the staff should be fairly paid and trained to continue to provide the high level of service for which the Wedge is known.

Future Member Group Meetings and discussions will be held as a way for the staff and board of the Wedge to learn and understand your perspective on the co-op. Perhaps you will be invited to participate, as we will be selecting at random from the membership for these groups in the future.*

Thanks to everyone for their participation.

* Another way to give input is to take short surveys from time to time. Sign up for email notices about surveys at www.wedge.coop. Click on Membership at the top and then on Sign Up for Surveys. We will send paper notices about surveys to members who do not choose the email option.