BriarPatch wraps up “most successful year yet”; expansion in works

Editor’s note: The December-January issue of the BriarPatch Co-op newsletter contains some updates on its expansion plans, reported in our current issue. Also don’t miss our ad in the “Patch’s” current newsletter on page 6.

“This year has been our most successful yet,” General Manager Chris Maher wrote in the newsletter. “We estimate that over the course of the year we have grown by over 12 percent, in terms of sales, transactions, and new Co-op owners.”

Here are some more excerpts:

“Why are you looking into growth?
We’ve been fantastically successful in our current location and we need to deal with some of the issues that our success has brought us. We need to address issues like parking, more shelf space, and a bigger deli and make sure that people’s shopping experience is as good as it can be. We also believe that our business model, returning “profits” to our owners and our community, is a good one that merits expansion when the demand exists.

“Is BriarPatch going to move?
We’re looking at all options right now. We’ve nearly outgrown the current building, but that doesn’t mean we have to move. The three alternatives we’re considering are: (a) remodeling the current building, (b) opening a small, satellite store; or (c) relocating (or some combination).

“When are you going to tell us what the decision is?
How can I give input?
Our goal is to have made a final decision by Summer 2014. We take our owners’ views very seriously and will continue to keep owners informed as we proceed.”

“Jeff Gold, who has served since 2008, is resigning from the Board. . . Maher is hiring Jeff to serve in a familiar capacity: providing consultation to BriarPatch for the long-range facility plan. Jeff served in that capacity from 2004 until 2007 for the planning and design of our Sierra College Drive store.”