Whole Foods Erie Co-op Board of Directors
MEETING MINUTES
March 24th, 2021, 5:30-7:00pm
Zoom online meeting; L. Nieratko Hosting
Attending BOD: President - Cole Schenley, Vice President - Shari Gross, Secretary - Alison Kaminski, Treasurer - Michael Barron, Directors: Derek Golembeski, Freda Tepfer, Kevin Schaaf, Amanda Gates, Allison Jones
Staff Personnel: General Manager- LeAnna Nieratko, Human Resources Manager - Natalie Conway, Marketing Manager - Heidi Yeagle, Business Office Manager - Ben Bowman, Food Service Manager - Nick Michaels*, Bakery Manager -* Sarah Dreisdat*, Board Assistant* - Alethea Bodine
Guests: Rose Strazisar
AGENDA:
Owner Forum; No members present had comment.
Consent Agenda; C. Schenley
February Minutes were accepted as edited. Motion was made by S. Gross to approve the Feb. Minutes as edited. M. Barron seconded. No discussion. All were in favor. Motion passed.
Treasurer Report; M. Barron
There were (28) new member/owners in Feb.(6) requested refunds of equity, stating moving from the area as their reason for refund of equity.
Motion was made by F. Tepfer to approve the Jan. Treasurer's Report. D. Golembeski seconded, all were in favor. Motion passed.
GM Report; L. Nieratko
FYIs
Listening Sessions
For March, three listening sessions were held for the community to hear information and share feedback on the potential for an expansion project. The feedback from these sessions will be compiled in a larger project report in April.
ECRS
Installation and training for the new POS hardware and software began on 3/16.
Product Statement
The operations team came up with some recommended changes to the product statement based on feedback we have received in regard to the potential second location.
Cash balance as of February 28, 2021 was $322, 935. This is including the $80,000 reimbursement which came on February 5th.
Regarding the proposed changes to the Product Statement, in a greater effort to provide foodstuffs for the WIC and SNAP social services; C. Schenley raised
1. The question of receiving sufficient feedback from the public. L. Nieratko stated she expected that we should receive sufficient feedback.
2. Is support of NY Bagel counter to the WFC’s non-political policy? This business openly touts their political leanings. L. Nieratko stated that national companies should be held to the same standard. This needs closer examination.
3. Is there a concern over losing Member Ownership due to the change in the Product Statement? L. Neiratko suggested the current member owner base (7,000+), and the equity it generates, could sustain any fluctuations.
Discussion: S. Gross asked if there was a way to keep quality high as a priority under affordability. L. Neiratko stated there is always a balance that is maintained.
A. Gates asked if WFC could model a shoppers discount program like the GreenStar Cooperative, in which the “Round Up” feature funds the program. She went on to ask how one might determine who is eligible. L. Nieratko shared that the “LIME” program of Greensboro Coop or the “Flower” Program in Ithaca, NY are the best examples of Shopper Discount Programs designed to support lower income families who are interested in feeding their families whole foods.
C. Schenley asked if the Shopper Discount Program had ever been known to have been abused. L. Nieratko shared that staff would do due diligence in policing eligibility.
D. Golembeski asked if such a program wouldn’t be automatic at POP. Guest, Rose Strazisar shared that recipients would most likely be SNAP and WIC recipients.
Motion was made by D. Golembeski to approve the GM's Reports. S. Gross seconded. All were in favor. Motion passed.
GM Monitoring Report(s): B8 - Customer Service & Value
L. Nieratko reported there had only been one product complaint, of NY Bagel, since the last policy review of B8. We have received several complaints related to this business’s compliance over pandemic related health-department standards. They improved their health department COVID report from November to December and have told us they continue to make improvements to come into compliance since then. This situation is ongoing and on our radar. She also shared that there are four new sets in Refrigeration and Frozen, all of which have been successful over the course of the year of the Pandemic.
WFC continues to build in multiple vendor sources to react to disruptions in the supply chain. In order to combat this, each department manager sourced and identified different vendors to accommodate any disruptions. For example, the grocery department contacted Frankferd Farms and KeHe as primary supply sources for staple items in the event of disruption at UNFI. Produce identified Sanson as a distributor in the case of disruption with Four Seasons.
The WFC recently signed onto a program through NCG called CoreSets that helps analyze national product movement/trend data so that we can focus more on local trend data. Customers will see CoreSet items in the refrigerated and frozen sections.
Stock is rotated to ensure freshness and mark down items prior to the sell-by date. Any items that are no longer fresh, the WFC gives it to staff as a staff benefit, composts through Conservation Compost or
donates it to The Erie City Mission.
Second Harvest Food Bank has a Food Spoilage Program the WFC plans to participate in the near future, so there will be literally zero waste.
The WFC continues to offer programs/materials about Health, Cooking, Environmental sustainability and the Cooperative business model.
L. Nieratko shared that the WFC passed it’s most recent Health Department Inspection (2/11/2021) with zero violations. The COVID Health inspection (12/10/2020) was also passed with zero violations.
The SorcErie Food Truck’s most recent Retail Food Facility Inspection Report (8/3/18) indicates no violations and overall compliance. We have not had an inspection since that time.
Additional safety considerations were put in place through the month of March, 2020 in response to the Covid 19 pandemic including but not limited to:
● Increasing use of gloves for any staff ringing or directly handling consumer product (where possible)
● Offering facemasks for all staff with the option to have them laundered/disinfected each use by the Co-op
● Putting up plexi glass sneeze guards at the registers in-use
● Restricting use of register two as it prevents 6ft of distance between customers at register 1. ● Placing 6ft marking reminders on the floor for customers
● Removing carts and baskets from the floor to monitor the number of customers in the building and to ensure the ability to sanitize the carts/baskets in a timely manner
In addition to trends and Product Inquiry Requests, the WFC also:
● Has a suggestion/comment box, from which comments are posted and responded to questions when possible
● Staffing the Customer Service Desk during all operating hours.
● Answer questions and comments on social media when possible.
● A Website contact form and a Google business page where messages are received and responded to
● Held listening sessions in March 2021
Motion was made by D. Golembeski to approve the GM's Report of Compliance to Policy B8 - Customer Service and Value. S. Gross seconded. All were in favor. Motion passed.
Board Policy Evaluation - D10 - Board Travel Policy; C. Schenley
C. Shenley reported that the Board has not traveled since the Pandemic.
S. Gross suggested the compliance with this policy should involve a Procedural Document for review.
Motion was made by S. Gross to approve Board Policy Evaluation, D10. M. Barron seconded, all were in favor. Motion passed.
Board Learning; WFC Bakery Manager; Sarah Dreisdat and Food Services Manager, Nick Michaels
**Sarah Dreisdat** spoke about how her staff bakes from 5 am to 1 pm and now after ten years, is generating $3,500 in product a week. The struggle of the Pandemic was difficult to navigate as hours and staffing shifted to accommodate state recommendations in occupancy. She reported having to work third shift in an effort to keep staff employed and with product demand. Now that Pandemic protocols have lifted, PRESSED - the coffee shop on the GreenGarden Plaza - has re-established a huge weekly order. Sarah shared she would love to increase hours for staff and someday have her own kitchen to manage, as the traffic in the current kitchen is less than desirable. She shared she is proud that her baking staff manages with what space they have and with cooperation from all Cafe staff, they continue to outdo themselves.
BOD shared their immense pleasure with the consistency of the beautiful confections being created daily. Sarah shared that Michaela's macrons continue to be a big hit for the holidays.
Nick Michaels spoke about the enormous uptick in sales since his coming on as the new Food Service Manager. The Cafe now generates $5,400 weekly, up from $500 when the Pandemic first began. The remaining staff have been phenomenal and unwavering in their dedication to keeping the Grab and Go stocked with fresh, organic homemade salads, dips, sandwiches and wraps - as well as special vegan dishes, created by Food Truck Chef, Jess Voltz. Nick shared he was looking forward to an upcoming Cleaning Day with staff and went on to say that the Cafe is well on it’s way to returning to contributing to the bottom line in a substantial way.
Other Board Discussions:
Expansion Project Discussion
C. Schenley shared that the ProForma/Lease and Market Study will be shared with Craig Zonna and the accountant, prior to the next BOD meeting so that directors might be able to ask what remaining questions they may have regarding the Expansion Project. He went on to ask L. Nieratko how listening Sessions have been going. LeAnna shared that listening sessions are going well.
LeAnna did go on to say that accessibility has been onus for much discussion. Carrie Sashenk wrote an OpEd in the Erie Times News in which she misspoke about facts regarding the project.
A. Gates spoke to the negative comments that are being made on social media and has intervened - in some cases, asking that people attend Listening Sessions in an effort to dismiss and dispel any misinformation regarding the project.
C. Schenley noted that much of the negativity seems to be centered around the EDDC. D. Golembeski suggested that the WFC write it’s own OpEd.
An Executive Session was called at 6:44 pm
Minutes respectfully submitted, 4/20/21 ~ Alethea Bodine, Board Assistant