Co-ops Connect: Community Owned for a Common Purpose

In early June, Linden Hills Co-op, Eastside Food Co-op, and the Wedge Community Co-op announced that we are in preliminary discussions to consolidate our cooperatives. Linden Hills Co-op has always been a dynamic business, active and willing to make changes and sometimes difficult decisions to meet the needs of our member-owners. The best interest of our members has always been the impetus for changes that have occurred at the co-op, and we truly believe that a consolidation with the Wedge Community Co-op and Eastside Food Co-op is the next smart step in continuing to meet member needs and maintaining a healthy business for the foreseeable future. In an increasingly competitive market, we believe that cooperatives are stronger together.

Why consolidate?

Although our three co-ops are unique to our neighborhoods, we share a commitment to the cooperative principles, to our local farmers and producers, to providing local, sustainable foods, to protecting our planet and to supporting healthy communities. In the proposed consolidation, the three co-ops would join together to form a unified, larger co-op (more similar to the size of other local co-ops with multiple locations). Our administrative departments would combine and pool resources; we would have greater buying power and eventually be able to offer more competitive pricing. Additionally, we would be able to increase our impact in the local community.

Consolidating would not mean losing our identity as a business. We will always be your co-op in Linden Hills. We plan to maintain our unique product selection and continue to listen to your suggestions and requests about how we can improve. We will always remain committed to our local organizations, farmers and producers and stay rooted in our community.

It’s up to you!

Ultimately, the choice is yours. As a cooperative, we are a democratically run business and the decision to consolidate does not belong to the board of directors or management staff.  It belongs to our members. Now is the time to talk to your board of directors about your questions, opinions and concerns about the consolidation project. If you’ve missed our listening sessions and town hall meeting, please email us your thoughts at lindenhills@coopsconnect.com or leave us a comment card in store. In September, the board will decide whether or not to put the proposed consolidation on the October ballot based on the feedback they’ve received from you. If the board chooses to move forward with a vote, Minnesota statute requires that the consolidation passes by two-thirds vote of all ballots cast. We’re excited to engage with you in this democratic process to decide the future of our co-op! Now is the time to take an active role as a member–owner of our cooperative.

Get out and vote!

The board has voted to include the consolidation measure on the ballot. Members will receive election and voter guides in the mail next week! In store and online voting will begin Monday, September 19th. Our board will be tabling in store to encourage members to vote and answer questions on the following dates:

Saturday, September 24th, 12 pm - 2 pm

Saturday, October 8th, 10 am - 1 pm

Wednesday, October 12th, 5:30 pm - 7 pm

Sunday, October 16th, 1 pm - 3 pm

Saturday, October 22nd, 12 pm - 2 pm

Sunday, October 23rd, 1 pm - 3 pm

View frequently asked questions about the Co-ops Connect project

 View member-owner mailing about the Co-ops Connect project