It is with much excitement for the future of Seward Co-op that we are announcing an agreement with a local non-profit to purchase the Creamery building. At this time, the agreement requires us to keep the identity of the buyer confidential. However, the buyer is deeply aligned with our values and Ends, and we are confident they will be able to use the Creamery building to expand their mission in the community. We will coordinate with the buyer to make a full announcement once a closing date has been set, likely sometime this fall.
Our strategic direction, which we communicated to staff earlier this year, calls for Seward Co-op to “re-center, simplify, connect, and grow.” Our vision when we moved into the Creamery included diversifying our operations by wholesaling sausage and other house-made products and operating a restaurant. However, we have since reset our priorities to respond to the changing economic landscape— simplifying what we do to grow sales and achieve financial sustainability. When we set out to lease the ground floor of the building, each offer we received included an option to purchase. After deliberation with Board members and leadership staff, we decided that selling the building would best support our strategic priorities.
The sale of the Creamery building is a positive step towards our strategic direction. As was communicated previously, over the past year we have assessed every aspect of co-op operations in order to implement expense reductions wherever possible. The sale of the Creamery building will significantly decrease our operating expenses, and will reduce the co-op’s long-term liabilities and the complexity of our operations. Selling groceries is what we do best. With continued focus on simplifying and improving our operations, we can grow sales and achieve financial sustainability of the business. This will allow us to grow the cooperative in alignment with our values and Ends.
These changes are a testament to our organization’s commitment to long-term, sustainable growth in alignment with our values. We know we can work together to get to a result that will be a positive one for the future of our co-op. Right now we are in the process of communicating with staff and planning together about what the sale will mean for our work spaces, including relocation logistics for staff who are currently working at the Creamery building. We are grateful for the hard work of all Seward Co-op staff members and look forward to the next chapter of our co-op. While change can be challenging, it also presents opportunities for growth. We are so grateful to our co-op owners as we navigate this journey. We’ll be in touch with more information in the coming months.
In cooperation,
Ray Williams, Seward Co-op General Manager