Blue Hill Co-op: Strategies for Operational Resiliency

Blue Hill Co-op started as a buying club in 1974 and incorporated in 1979. Membership grew to over 1,000 by the early 90’s, and the first storefront location opened in 1993. The co-op went through significant growth in the late 90’s and technology upgrades perpetuated that growth into the 21st century. In 2014, the co-op purchased land on South Street in Blue Hill and started planning, what some might call, a massive expansion. Leaving an 1,800  square foot building that limited their ability to grow, Blue Hill Co-op expanded into 7,000 square feet of retail space in July 2019. Their operation is powered by solar panels, a staff of 40+ people, and over 2,000 member-owners. A key player in the local food economy, the co-op, prior to its move and expansion, infused over $760,000 into their local economy.

So how are they doing now? We asked Kevin Gadsby, Blue Hill’s General Manager, a few questions to get a sense of how the co-op  is operating in the midst of a global pandemic.

Q. What is one thing you’re co-op has done that you are proud of and is helping to sustain your operation through these challenging times?

A. We decided early on to implement an online ordering platform for curbside pickup. It was a bit of a scramble at first, but has since been developed and streamlined with high efficiency resulting in many satisfied customers. Numerous Co-op owners use our online ordering system exclusively.

Q. When thinking about challenges in the current pandemic environment, what is the first thing that comes to mind and how are you addressing it?

A. Clear communication is key. Since the onset of the pandemic, we have provided a weekly update to our Co-op community on numerous topics surrounding what to expect when shopping at the Co-op: changes in hours, changes in operations, on-line ordering, changes in policies surrounding COVID-19 precautions, and our response to current events such as the Black Lives Matter movement. The response to our updates has been overwhelmingly positive. We feel blessed to be a part of such a supporting Co-op community. A theme of our weekly communication has been one of support and hope during these increasingly challenging times.

Q. Looking to the future, what are some of your business development ideas?

A. Several Co-op owners have asked if we will continue to offer online ordering for curbside pickup once the pandemic subsides. Online ordering has been so successful, we cannot imagine existing without it. We plan to offer delivery service in the near future.

At CMBA, we hope these highlights will help other co-ops work through their challenges and prompt ideas on how to improve their operations. We also hope that you the readers feel compelled to reach out to us with possible solutions to issues that you think can help  Blue Hill Co-op. If you are a CMBA member and have specific ideas or questions for us or Kevin Gadsby, email us at emmy@maine.coop.” — Cooperative Maine Business Alliance