Littleton Food Coop

a community owned market

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Open Daily 7AM-9PM

PSA Regarding a Positive COVID Test at the Co-op

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On Sunday April 10 we learned that two employees from our store tested positive for Covid-19.  

Both employees last worked at the store on Thursday 4/7, during which time they were not symptomatic. One employee was masked continuously during their shifts. Both work primarily within the Grocery department, HBC, and Operations areas. They are currently both self-quarantining at home for the NH recommended 10 day period.

We are encouraging anyone with concerns to contact their healthcare professional and get tested when appropriate. We have identified all staff members who may have been in close contact with the affected employees, and we are supporting them as they self-monitor. 

As part of our daily Covid-19 screening practices we ask that any employee who exhibits symptoms to stay home, contact our HR department, and notify their healthcare provider. Our co-op has a generous sick leave and vacation policy, and we are working with staff members on a case-by-case basis to ensure they have the support they need. 

Our co-op prides itself on its cleanliness, social distancing, and safety standards, and we are taking multiple steps to best serve you, care for our staff, and be a responsible member of our community. 

  • The Co-op is a mask-friendly store, and we encourage anyone with concerns to wear one!
  • Our staff self-monitor for symptoms and do not come to work if they are sick.
  • All employees are asked to maintain a 6 foot distance from customers and coworkers.
  • We practice social distancing in our work areas and have installed reminders throughout the store.
  • We have installed extra sanitizer stations for staff and customers throughout the store, and encourage good hygiene and frequent hand-washing. 
  • We’ve installed plexiglas safety barriers at our registers, and marked off spaces on the floor to help everyone maintain a safe social distance.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at info@littletoncoop.org.

 

 

Mask Policy Update

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As you may have heard, local COVID case counts are dropping and the CDC and NH State recently made some changes in masking guidance. Therefore we’ve begun to roll back our current mask protocols. We realize it’s important we do this in a way that is transparent, inclusive and continues to serve everyone’s well-being.

While we don’t specifically require masks to be worn at the Co-op, we’ve been strongly suggesting it for a while now. Masks are now optional for customers. You can mask if you want to, or not. As of Monday 3/21, our employees will no longer be required to wear masks. If you have a respiratory illness, please be considerate and wear a mask so that it doesn’t spread to other customers and staff. If you have COVID-19, please stay home and refrain from entering the store.

If you’re not able to shop in person, we have a Curbside Pickup Service for Members. You can easily order your groceries on our website and we’ll bring them out to your car.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to us at info@littletoncoop.org. Thanks for listening, and we welcome your feedback!

How Co-ops Are Helping Ukraine

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Cooperatives around the world operate according to a set of principles adopted by the International Cooperative Alliance. All people deserve the right to represent themselves democratically (Principle 2) and be free from tyranny or control from others (Principle 4). We also believe in cooperation among cooperatives, which means cooperatives should help and support one another (Principle 6).

Ukraine’s Central Union of Consumer Societies oversees a wide range of cooperative services and everyday essentials in many Ukrainian communities. This includes food co-ops just like ours, as well as public media production, education, manufacturing, and essential services. All of these cooperatives are at risk – along with the citizens and communities that rely on them – as long as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues.

In a show of solidarity, National Co+op Grocers (NCG) has partnered with the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) and NCBA CLUSA to launch a fundraising drive to support the Ukrainian cooperative community. Our General Manager and our Board have organized a direct donation of $2000 for this fund, which will directly support Cooperatives in Ukraine. Even better, NCG is matching all donations up to $100,000, effectively doubling the power of our contribution. That’s especially critical right now, since many of the towns and cities where people are trapped will need the food, shelter, and services that the Ukrainian Coop provides!

“The sense of support and solidarity we feel from around the world gives us strength,” said Illia Gorokhovskyi, board chair of the All-Ukrainian Central Union of Consumer Societies (COOP Ukraine), adding that the country’s cooperatives are continuing to serve their members. “Despite these circumstances, consumer cooperatives are making efforts to provide the population with the necessities of life, primarily food, and delivering them to where it is most needed.”

We’re not actively seeking additional donations at this time, but there are other ways you can help! NPR has compiled an excellent list of organizations you can donate to, and World Central Kitchen is providing fresh, nourishing meals to Ukrainian refugees.

PSA Regarding a Positive COVID Test at the Co-op

By

On Wednesday February 2 we learned that an employee from our store tested positive for Covid-19.  

The employee works in the checkout area at the registers. Their last shift was on Wednesday February 2. The employee is currently self-quarantining at home as recommended by their healthcare provider. 

We are encouraging anyone with concerns to contact their healthcare professional and get tested when appropriate. We have identified all staff members who may have been in close contact with the affected employees, and we are supporting them as they self-monitor. At this time we believe there is no communal spread within the Co-op. 

As part of our daily Covid-19 screening practices we ask that any employee who exhibits symptoms to stay home, contact our HR department, and notify their healthcare provider. Our co-op has a generous sick leave and vacation policy, and we are working with staff members on a case-by-case basis to ensure they have the support they need. 

Our co-op prides itself on its cleanliness, social distancing, and safety standards, and we are taking multiple steps to best serve you, care for our staff, and be a responsible member of our community. 

  • Employees are required to wear masks inside the store. We ask customers to wear masks while they shop.
  • Our staff self-monitor for symptoms and do not come to work if they are sick.
  • All employees are asked to maintain a 6 foot distance from customers and coworkers.
  • We practice social distancing in our work areas and have installed reminders throughout the store.
  • We have installed extra sanitizer stations for staff and customers throughout the store, and encourage good hygiene and frequent hand-washing. 
  • We’ve installed plexiglas safety barriers at our registers, and marked off spaces on the floor to help everyone maintain a safe social distance.

To learn more about the steps we are taking, please visit our website at www.littletoncoop.com/covid-19. 

If you have any further questions, please contact us at info@littletoncoop.org.

 

 

A PSA Regarding a Positive COVID Test at the Co-op

By

In the interest of transparency, we wanted to inform you that on Sunday January 30 we learned that an employee from our store tested positive for Covid-19.  

The employee works in the checkout area at the registers. Their last shift was on Thursday January 27. 

The employee is currently self-quarantining at home as recommended by their healthcare provider. To our knowledge, the employee has no exhibited symptoms while at work.

We are encouraging anyone with concerns to contact their healthcare professional and get tested when appropriate. We have identified all staff members who may have been in close contact with the affected employees, and we are supporting them as they self-monitor. At this time we believe there is no communal spread within the Co-op. 

To learn more about the steps we are taking, please visit our website at www.littletoncoop.com/covid-19. 

A PSA Regarding a Positive COVID Test at the Co-op

By

On Friday, January 14 we learned that two employees from our store tested positive for Covid-19.

One employee works in the deli department, and the other employee works in the bulk department. Their last shifts were on Friday January 7.

Both employees are self-quarantining at home as recommended by their healthcare providers. To our knowledge, neither employee has exhibited symptoms while at work.

We have identified all staff members who may have been in close contact with the affected employees, and we are supporting them as they self-monitor. As part of our daily Covid-19 screening practices, we ask that any employee who exhibits symptoms to stay home, contact our HR department, and notify their healthcare provider. Our co-op has a generous sick leave and vacation policy, and we are working with staff members on a case-by-case basis to ensure they have the support they need.

We encourage anyone with concerns to contact their healthcare professional and get tested when appropriate.

To learn more about the steps we are taking, please visit our Covid-19 information page.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at info@littletoncoop.org.

A PSA Regarding a Positive COVID Test at the Co-op

By

In the interest of transparency, we wanted to inform you that on Monday, January 10 we learned that two employees from our store have tested positive for Covid-19.

One employee works in the deli department, and the other employee works as a cashier. Their last shifts were both on Saturday, January 8.

Both employees are self-quarantining at home as recommended by their healthcare providers. To our knowledge, neither employee has exhibited symptoms while at work and most likely contracted the virus outside of the store.

We encourage anyone with concerns to contact their healthcare professional and get tested when appropriate.

As an added precaution we’ve done extra cleaning and sanitation in each area of the store. We have also identified all staff members who may have been in close contact with the affected employees, and we are supporting them as they self-monitor. At this time we believe there is no communal spread within the Co-op.

As part of our daily Covid-19 screening practices, we ask that any employee who exhibits symptoms to stay home, contact our HR department, and notify their healthcare provider. Our co-op has a generous sick leave and vacation policy, and we are working with staff members on a case-by-case basis to ensure they have the support they need.

Our co-op prides itself on its cleanliness, social distancing, and safety standards, and we are taking multiple steps to best serve you, care for our staff, and be a responsible member of our community.

Employees are required to wear masks inside the store. We ask customers to wear masks while they shop.
Our staff self-monitor for symptoms and do not come to work if they are sick.
All employees are asked to maintain a 6 foot distance from customers and coworkers.
We practice social distancing in our work areas and have installed reminders throughout the store.
We have installed extra sanitizer stations for staff and customers throughout the store, and encourage good hygiene and frequent hand-washing.
We’ve installed plexiglas safety barriers at our registers, and marked off spaces on the floor to help everyone maintain a safe social distance.

To learn more about the steps we are taking, please visit our Covid-19 information page.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at info@littletoncoop.org.

Fondue, Two Ways

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Fondue is a crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for New Year’s Eve, or when you’re ready to warm up after a weekend of skiing. Pick up some swiss cheeses from our specialty cheese department (personally, we prefer Gruyère and Emmentaler) along with a bottle of dry white wine, plus some fruit, veggies, and bread for dipping, and you’re ready to go!

Don’t have a fondue pot? You can use a double boiler, slow cooker, or a heavy saucepan with a hot plate or tealight underneath. Also, consider placing a few plates of dipping items around the pot, so that guests don’t have to reach over to get what they need. 

Here are two recipes to get you started:

Co-op Cheese Fondue

Ingredients:

1 small garlic clove, halved
1 cup dry white wine
¾ pound Gruyère cheese, grated
¾ pound Emmenthaler, raclette or Appenzeller cheese, grated
1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
1 to 2 tablespoons kirsch (optional)
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste (optional)

Directions:

Rub the inside of a fondue pot with the garlic clove, then discard the garlic. Combine grated Gruyère and Emmentaler with wine, cornstarch and lemon juice and cook over moderate heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cheeses begin to melt. Add kirsch and a pinch of pepper and nutmeg. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring gently, until creamy and smooth. Serve with a selection of foods for dipping.

For Dipping:

Crusty bread cubes; steamed broccoli or cauliflower; carrot, celery or fennel sticks; cubed apple; seedless grapes; clementine sections; cubed salami, soppressata or kielbasa; roasted chestnuts and/or dried apricots

(Recipe adapted from cooking.nytimes.com)

Chocolate Fondue

Ingredients:

2 cups heavy cream
24 ounces semisweet chocolate chips or chopped
semisweet chocolate bars
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the cream until hot, but not simmering. Add the chocolate and stir just until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the chocolate fondue into the fondue pot and set it up over the heat. Serve with a selection of treats for dipping.

For Dipping:

Sliced bananas, Sliced apples, Sliced pears, Orange segments, Strawberries, Marshmallows, Cake or banana bread cut into cubes, Cookies, Graham crackers

(Recipe adapted from thespruceeats.com)

2020 Patronage Dividends

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We are excited to announce, on behalf of the Littleton Food Co-op’s Board of Directors and our staff, that we will be issuing a Patronage Dividend for Fiscal Year 2020. 

A Note From Our General Manager

The Littleton Food Co-op, like everyone else, experienced plenty of challenges in 2020. Despite all of the added COVID issues, the Co-op had a very strong year with sales over $16.8 million in 2020. Our annual Patronage Dividend is determined by our Net Income, which was also well above record levels. After discussions with the LFC Board of Directors, we’re pleased to announce a Patronage of 3.53% of sales; 50% of which will be paid to Members, and 50% will be retained by the Co-op as capital. This is by far the largest Patronage we’ve ever paid.

I would like to ask that our Members consider donating some or all of their Dividend to the Littleton Food Co-op Community Fund. The LFCCF is the Non-Profit Fund of our Co-operative which makes your donation tax-deductible. Every year all proceeds of the fund are donated to one of the many nonprofits in our area. This year, the Co-op will be matching all donations to the Community Fund through December 2021, up to $50,000! This is just another way that the Co-op gives back to our community. We’ve always been impressed by the generosity of our Members, and for that we thank you. 

None of this would have been possible if it weren’t for the great team of employees at the Co-op and our volunteer Board of Directors. We also have to thank our Membership, over 8,000 households in the North Country, that own the Littleton Food Co-op and support it by shopping here. I am proud and honored to serve such a fine community-minded organization.

Cooperatively, 

Ed King, General Manager

FAQ’s

What is a Patronage Dividend? 

  • Patronage Dividends are determined by the Net Income of the Co-op in a given year (2020), as a way for the Co-op to share its earnings with Members.
  • Each year the Board of Directors votes on whether to issue a Patronage Dividend, based on the Net Income of the previous year.
  • This is one of the most powerful tax benefits we derive from being a Cooperative. Co-ops are allowed to distribute the net income earned from sales to Members, as a rebate to Members. The Co-op does not pay taxes on this amount. Nor is your share considered taxable income, since it’s essentially a deferred price reduction on purchases you’ve already made.

How is the Patronage Dividend Calculated?

  • The 2020 Patronage Dividend is $400,000, or 3.53% of Member purchases.
  • 50% ($200,000) will be distributed among our Members as a Patronage Dividend Rebate.
  • 50% ($200,000) will be retained by the Co-op as capital. Retaining capital is one way of strengthening the long-term health of your Co-op, allowing us to re-invest in future improvements to the store.

How do I know if I qualify for a Patronage Dividend Rebate?

  • To qualify, you must:
    • Be a current Member of Littleton Food Co-op;
    • Have owned at least 1 Member Share between 12/29/2019 and 1/2/2021;
    • Be in good standing with the Co-op; ie, your Membership has not ever been revoked or refunded due to disagreement or belligerent behavior.
  • The more you shopped at the Co-op between 12/29/2019 and 1/2/2021, the higher your Patronage Dividend Rebate will be.
  • Qualifying Members with rebates greater than $5.80 will receive a letter in the mail in October 2021 notifying them that they have Patronage funds available to them.
  • All available funds from Patronage Dividend Rebates will be applied as a credit to Members’ accounts. Your cashier can look it up in our system.

How do I use my Patronage Dividend Rebate?

  • Rebates are redeemable at Littleton Food Co-op and have been applied as a credit to your account.
  • When making a purchase, let your cashier know that you would like to use your rebate.
  • We encourage you to donate your rebate to the Littleton Food Co-op Community Fund (LFCCF).
  • Now through 12/31/21, the Co-op will match all donations made to the LFCCF, up to $50,000.
  • If your rebate is $50.00 or more you may request payment by check. Contact Minnie Cushing at mcushing@littletoncoop.org.

What is the Littleton Food Co-op Community Fund?

  • LFCCF is a non-profit 501c3 that allows Co-op Members and shoppers to contribute to an endowment that donates to local non-profit organizations.
  • The Co-op earns interest from this Fund, which is then donated to a local organization each year.
  • For more information about LFCCF, click here.

Employee Vaccinations at the Co-op

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A few of our customers and Members have reached out to us with inquiries and concerns regarding our vaccination policy here at the Co-op. At this time we do not have a mandatory vaccination policy in place for our employees. We are waiting to hear from OSHA as they develop such a policy for businesses with more than 100 employees. 

For privacy reasons we do not divulge the vaccination status of individual employees, just as we would not divulge any other personal health information. What we can tell you is that our current vaccination rate is well above the state average. We have had multiple in-store opportunities for our employees to receive a free vaccination. We have a mask mandate in place for our employees and still do our best to practice social distancing. We haven’t had any community-spread events inside our store, and the few cases we have had most likely originated outside of the Co-op.

We know that Covid-19 can be transmitted among vaccinated people. Our employees wear masks to protect each other, to protect our customers and Members, and to minimize the spread of the virus in our community. We urge you to do the same and wear a mask when you shop here at the Co-op.

If you have any specific questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ed King, General Manager, at eking@littletoncoop.org



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