From the General Manager
In & Around The Co-op
Winter weather may be as unpredictable as ever, but our incredible store teams have worked tirelessly to ensure that every essential is available to meet the needs of our community. We know that there are many places to turn when preparing for winter conditions, and we cannot thank you enough for choosing The Merc Co+op to help you through the season’s challenges.
We have been working hard to find new, exciting ways to incentivize ownership in our food co-op. You may notice additional savings for owners on recent and upcoming promotions (like the freezer sale last month). There has never been a better time to own a grocery store! We are currently running an owner drive with additional incentives for new owners. Do not hesitate to ask your cashier or any staff member if you are interested in becoming an owner or have any questions about what ownership entails.
I’m incredibly grateful for the talented and passionate team I have the honor of working with, and for the vibrant communities we serve. The collective achievements of 2024 fill me with pride, and I’m filled with anticipation for the goals we’ll achieve together in 2025. Whether you’re a staff member, shopper or owner, your commitment to cooperative grocery is what sets us apart. The United Nations has declared 2025 “the year of the co-op”—and we couldn’t be more excited to show the world why that is so true. Together, we’re not just part of a store; we’re part of a movement.
Here’s to a future full of growth, community, and the unshakeable belief that together, we can create something greater.
—Seth Naumann, General Manager
Introducing our Operations Director, Becky Crook
Becky Crook, Operations Director
I am thrilled to announce that our Lawrence produce manager Becky Crook has been promoted to the position of Operations Director. In her new capacity, Becky will oversee daily operations across both locations in all departments, ensuring our commitment to quality and efficiency.
Becky is a native Kansan and spent most of her life in the Kansas City metro area. Holding a B.S. in Environmental Studies, she has consistently demonstrated a passion for sustainability, food systems and building relationships to strengthen our local economy. Through college and after graduation she found her passion for community organizing through community meals, free markets and managing a community garden in Lawrence for several years.
Becky began working at the co-op in 2014 in the deli kitchen and in 2019, she accepted the role of Produce Manager. During her five years as the Produce Manager, she found a passion for team building, leadership and merchandising to grow sales and foster a culture of inclusion and growth.
Lawrence Location Updates
Mainstreet Credit Union Closing Location in the Lawrence Store
Mainstreet Credit Union has announced their decision to close their location in the Lawrence store effective March 28. The exterior ATM will be removed April 30. We have appreciated our partnership with Mainstreet and wish them well as we continue to pursue our shared vision of cooperative commerce. Members of Mainstreet are welcome to visit their location on 23rd Street in Lawrence.
We are planning to install a new, interior ATM for our shoppers’ convenience this spring, and we’re exploring options to best utilize this space going forward. More to come later this spring.
Parking Lot Work at the Lawrence Location
Lawrence shoppers are familiar with the small river that forms near the entrance of the store on rainy days. To divert water away from the ramp to the front doors, we’ll be installing a trench and drains later this spring. Keep an eye on our emails for what to expect.
Tariffs and the Potential Impact on Prices
The US government announced that a 25% tariff will be imposed on goods from Canada and Mexico and a 20% tariff will apply on products from China, beginning today. We have been informed by primary national distributors that these tariffs will result in an immediate 25% increased cost of goods like meat and produce sourced from those countries. It will likely be a few weeks before pricing is updated to reflect these changes, and longer to see the impacts of tariffs on our supply chain (things like fertilizer, steel, etc.)
What are tariffs? Tariffs are taxes charged on goods imported from other countries. Companies that import goods from abroad pay the tariffs to the US government. Distributors will likely pass that increased cost onto their consumers (grocery stores).
The profit margin for grocery retail is just 1.6%. That means for every dollar of product that we sell, our co-op makes around 1.6 cents after we’ve paid for the product, for staff labor and benefits, for keeping our lights on. To cover the cost of these increases, we would need to be making 25 cents per dollar sold. No operational adjustments we could make would result in that kind of profit. Therefore, we will need to increase prices on those items impacted by tariffs.
Our commitment to local products sets our stores apart. We know our shoppers prioritize our local and regional producers, and now more than ever shopping local will have a positive impact individually and as a community. We also know our shoppers value affordability and year-round availability of products, which (in the Midwest) requires imports. As always, we will explore options and brands with our distributors to help meet our shoppers’ needs, minimize impact when possible and adjust our product mix based on sales.