Bringing Members Big Savings on Groceries

Every October we celebrate Co-op Month by thanking our member-owners for their patronage and support of the Wedge. We also like to take the opportunity every October to reflect on the cooperative enterprise as a unique way of doing business.

Consumer cooperation as we know it today began in a small town in Rochdale, England over 150 years ago. The "Rochdale Pioneers," a group of disenfranchised textile workers formed the first organized grocery cooperative, and launched a world-wide movement. It was those cooperative founders who envisioned a well-integrated cooperative economy that could meet all of society's needs for food, housing, finance and health care.

Of the seven Cooperative Principles that guide our business practices, the sixth is "Cooperation Among Cooperatives." It is through this principle we continue to strengthen our bonds within the co-op movement. The principle reads: "Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures."

This year marks an important turning point for natural food co-ops in our region, as we continue to strengthen and pool our resources for greater cooperation.

Wedge Co-op is a member of Twin Cities Natural Food Co-ops (TCNFC), a secondary cooperative owned by member retails in the metro area, and it was formed to bring value-added services and benefits to co-op members and staff. The TCNFC supports a number of projects on behalf of co-op shoppers, including the Co-op Advantage Program (monthly product specials) and internal and external education programs. The Wedge has begun to see the results of the potential for greater cooperation locally and nationally, and we're pleased to be involved in this effort to strengthen the impact of cooperatives in the Midwest region.

The TCNFC stores membership represents one of the strongest consumer-owned blocs of natural food co-ops in the entire country, and that is something that is a source of pride. The Wedge Co-op also collaborates with the Midwest Co-op Grocers Association, which represents natural food co-ops from the entire upper Midwest region. All of these alliances serve to bring better service to our co-ops and value to our shoppers.

We are excited to bring you another benefit of the Co-op Advantage Program, a coupon book filled with a variety of ways to save money on premier natural products. Wedge members will find this coupon book delivered in the mail to your home at the beginning of October. This coupon book is an exclusive offer to the natural food co-op members of participating retail stores throughout the upper Midwest. Look for coupons inside on products from Organic Valley, Muir Glen, Spectrum Organics, and Traditional Medicinals among many more!

The Co-op Advantage Program has enabled our store buyers to bring you the best prices on natural foods through a joint purchasing program. We are now able to extend to you the additional benefits of this program with valuable coupons worth over $35 on your favorite products. We hope you like the extra savings on the products represented in the coupon book's pages, as well as this benefit of your co-op membership. It's our way of celebrating co-ops, and extending our thanks to you for your membership and continued patronage.