Sat 5/31 @ 6:30PM
Some food coops are struggling — Cleveland’s closed a few years back — but recently, the Kent Natural Foods Coop has the opposite problem. It’s enjoying explosive growth that’s outstripping its modest facility.
“We’ve had 10% growth every year since 2008,” says Jeff Ingram, facilities, produce and bulk goods manager. “We had 17% growth last year. We’re having trouble keeping store stocked. Most of the competition for us is the Mustard Seed [in Solon] and Seven Grains in Tallmadge. But we have better knowledge when it comes to health foods. I think that’s helped us so we need to expand whereas other coops are struggling to survive.”
The coop’s board began laying plans for that expansion last August, and now it’s ready to pull the trigger. Its Spring Green Gala is focused on raising funds to finance the expansion. The event, taking place at the Masonic Temple in Kent, will offer hors d’oeuvres, dessert, silent auction, entertainment, and the company of lots of people who are into transforming the way we eat into something healthier and more sustainable. Tickets are $25.
The plan — “as long as fundraising goes well and it has so far,” says Ingram — is to start the first of three phases of expansion in July and be done by September. Among the changes patrons will see are bigger produce and bulk foods sections, a larger prepared food selection thanks to an upgraded kitchen, and eventually an expanded beverage section that will include beer and wine.
More organic local produce is high on the list of things that their members want and they plan to deliver. Currently they source things like tomatoes, blueberries, peppers and greens from four farmers in Portage County, and host an all-organic CSA.
A couple of decades ago, it would have been hard to predict this outcome for the once scrappy little coop, whose history goes back some four decades and has been a bit checkered, to say the least. But in 1992, it officially became a membership cooperative, setting it on a course to where it is today, with 1,600 members who enjoy a discount, volunteer, and can come to member meetings to help set the direction for the coop.
By expanding in phases in response to growing patronage, the Kent Natural Foods Coop thinks it can dodge the issues that have plagued some other coops.
“[Buying coordinator, packaged, frozen and refrigerated goods] Elizabeth Ryan was part of the Akron coop which expanded too much,” says Ingram. “So she has knowledge of how not to expand. We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves.”
Go here for ticket information.