The MANNA Co-op board is moving along quickly to ready our store space and hire our first manager.
As a member-owned operation we need your thoughts to give the co-op direction on the important matters of inventory and hours of operation. Please take some time to tell us about your grocery shopping habits, give input on brands and products to stock, and share your vision for YOUR co-op.
TAKE SURVEY: https://umn.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8uMobMhh35urj2l
Construction Update
Our contractor, Robert Zahorski, has been hard at work on the remodel of the store at 105 Barbara Avenue. The building has had its interior walls taken down to maximize the floor space of the building for retail. Luckily, since the building was once a restaurant, some elements needed for a grocery were already in place, including a walk-in freezer and cooler, prep space with a three compartment sink, and a mop station.
Picture facing the front of the building as of January:
Picture facing the rear of the building:
Certainly there is more work to done to ready the store, but, considering that we got our first members a little more than a year ago, the co-op is clearly becoming a reality.
Membership
As of today membership stands at 338. We have a goal of reaching 500 members by the time we open this spring, so please continue to share the opportunity to become a founding member of Minnesota’s newest co-op with your friends and neighbors.
Sign up either online or by mail at http://box5556.temp.domains/~mannafo4/member-application/
Give the gift of a membership
We continue to reach for our membership goal of 500 by the time we open our doors and now is a great time to support others in the community through our LOCAL JEWEL (Leaving Our Community A Legacy Joining Everyone with Excellent Living) program. This is an opportunity to sponsor a MANNA Co-op membership or donate funds to be put towards a membership to the Co-op, allowing all members of our community to access local, healthy food, no matter their means.
You can find details and our form at our homepage at http://box5556.temp.domains/~mannafo4/
Our Timeline and Milestones:
COMPLETED: Pre-lease member goal of 300 members
COMPLETED: Department of Agriculture plan review
COMPLETED: Signing lease on building at 105 Barbara Avenue on Highway 34
Winter 2016-17: Building remodel
Spring 2017: Pre-opening member goal of 500 members
Spring 2017: Opening of store
Bless you and thank you for all your support! Please contact any board member with questions you may have.
MANNA Food Co-op Board of Directors,
Cyndi Anderson (cyndi@mosaicconsultinginc.com)
Wendy Gordon (wendy@charlyb62.sg-host.com)
Ryan Pesch (lidafarmer@gmail.com)
Stacy Salvevold (stuccie_wlf@yahoo.com )
Vicky Williams (jco@arvig.net)