Plastics & Online Reader
Q: I really liked the article on plastic-free body care in the April Reader. I use some of them already and learned about some new ones. I’d love to see more articles on plastic-free products. P.S. I’ll really miss getting my hard copy of the Willy St. Reader every month. There is no publication I have read more thoroughly for longer.
A: Thank you for your message. I'm glad you liked the plastic-free body care article! We will definitely include more articles on plastic-free products in the future. We'll still be sending out hard copies of the Reader if that's how you'd prefer to receive it. We're just requesting that those that can pick it up in the store or would enjoy it as much digitally make that choice. We're trying to cut down on postage costs which are quite high. So, if you'd rather keep getting a hard copy mailed to you, you are welcome to! We'd rather you read it and enjoy it if that's your preference. Thanks again for your message! -Liz Wermcrantz, Editor
Mailing Gift Cards
Q: I want to get a gift card for my daughter. She is a member. (I live in California). Can I order the gift card on-line? Thanks!
A: What a thoughtful idea! We definitely sell gift cards, and you can find out how to purchase one over the phone and have it mailed to your daughter at www.willystreet.coop/promotions/gift-cards. Thanks for thinking of us! -Liz Hawley, Education and Outreach Coordinator
Local Poultry
Q: Please start carrying local chicken and turkey! It is very frustrating to only see Bell&Evans chicken at West and to know that it has travelled across multiple states. As a food coop, Willy St should consistently offer local poultry.
A: Thank you for taking the time to write. I want nothing more than to sell a local chicken but, unfortunately, I have not been able to find a farm that would be able to supply us with chicken consistently. As far as the turkey goes we get almost all of our turkey from Ferndale Market in Cannon Falls MN, which is just 250 miles from the Capitol, while that is outside of what we consider local, they are a third-generation family farm that does an amazing job raising free-range turkeys, not to mention some of the nicest people you will ever meet.
I will continue to look for a local chicken vendor that will be able to meet our supply needs. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Thank you, Jeremy Johnson, Meat & Specialty Category Manager
Deli Recipes
Q: Would you consider putting the recipes for your prepared deli products on the website in your recipe collection? The item that prompted this inquiry for me, was the Beet and Kale Salad with tahini. For health reasons I am tracking ingredients and nutrition info and while the ingredient list on the deli label is helpful, I could be even more accurate if I had a sense of proportions etc. Hopefully this information would be useful to others as well, especially for items that are pretty much in continuous rotation like those salads. Thanks for considering!
A: Although we make almost all of our Deli food from scratch (occasionally we'll use pre-made components, like sauces or pie crust), our recipes are all in food service quantities and it would be difficult to scale down every recipe. As a perk of Ownership we are happy to send Owners recipes, though, and we are discussing a possible cookbook where many more recipes would be made available.
Attached is the recipe for the Beet and Kale Salad. It is so delicious. Enjoy and have a beautiful day! -Amanda Ikens, Owner Resources Coordinator
Willy Street Co-op Supplements
Q: I would like to be a member & continue to be able to order your Willy Street brand supplements as a member when no longer in the Madison area. I really like your own brand supplement blends. But I’m told delivery is not by shipping to an address, only by personal delivery. To join now, I’d have to cancel being a member with relocation. Your own branded supplements are done really well. But I’d lose access to them with a relocation. Please consider your own shipping for your branded product supplements. I get you can’t do freezer, cold stuff etc. But even a dreaded Amazon storefront would allow me to continue to attain your Willy Street supplement blends. Than you for your consideration.
A: Thanks for contacting us regarding the Willy Street Co-op supplements! I am sorry to hear that you are relocating and no longer able to purchase supplements from our stores. Unfortunately, it's true, we are not able to ship products directly to consumers from our retail stores or through an Amazon storefront.
However, there might be an alternative option... Do you have a friend or family member in the Madison area that would be willing to shop at one of our stores and then ship the products to you?
Or, is there a grocery co-op near your new location? If so, they might have the same products with their name on the label. The Willy Street Co-op supplements are manufactured by a company that produces premium, private-label supplements for many brick and mortar stores (especially grocery co-ops) all over the U.S.
If you'd like, I'd be willing to do some research for you; I just need to know your new location. I can contact some of the stores or even the company directly to see if anyone nearby carries the same supplements as we do. Please let me know if you would like my help! Be well, Sara Berg, General Merchandise Category Manager
Double Dollars Donating
Q: Did the Co-op stop donating to Double Dollars when people bring their own bags? We've noticed our cashiers stopped adding the donation. It may be important for you remind your cashiers since your Double Dollars funds keep running out.
A: Thanks for reaching out and letting us know that this step is being skipped at the registers during your recent transactions. The Co-op is continuing to donate 10 cents per reusable bag brought in to help support the Double Dollars program. I have partnered with the correct leaders to increase training and knowledge on this step as we continue to hire and onboard new employees. Thank you for contributing and caring about this cause!
Have a wonderful day, Kristina Kuhaupt, Customer Experience Manager
Bakery Selection
Q: Hi, We noticed recently that the bakery items we used to buy are no longer being sold—scones/almond croissant/danish. Will these be brought back? We've been buying them for a long time and really liked them.
Thanks!
A: Thank you for taking the time to write to us about your experience here at the Willy West Bakery. I'm sorry to hear that you could not find the scones, almond croissants, and danish when you were here last. We do continue to carry these products; they have simply moved to a new place. They are now in front of the Juice Bar in a new set of racks. Please stop by the Deli counter if you can not find them on your next trip in to our store, and we will be happy to show you where they are! -Thank you, Renee Strobel, Willy West Deli Manager
Annual Meeting & Party
Q: Hi all, will there be a Members' Night at La Fete this year? If so, when will tickets be available?
A: Thanks for your question! We have kind of separated the "Annual Meeting" from the "& Party." The Annual Meeting will be at the Middleton Performing Arts Center on October 11. We did want to keep the celebration of and appreciation for Owners that we've had for decades now, but we also wanted to spread the wealth around more of the city. So we will be offering up to 1,500 Festival Perks Passes for each of three festivals: Fete de Marquette; Good Neighbor Festival; and the new Northside Festival. (So 4,500 Passes total.) Each Pass will give the bearer access to half-priced food and beverages for a certain three-hour timeframe during that festival. We're also planning to give out a few hundred gift bags per festival. The Passes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and will only be applicable to the one festival it is associated with. We will start to hand out the Passes for Fete de Marquette on Saturday, July 2 at 11:00am at Willy East only. (Good Neighbor Festival Passes will only be distributed at Willy West, and Northside Festival Passes at Willy North.)
Learn more at www.willystreet.coop/owner-festival-perks. If you have any further questions, please let me know! -Brendon Smith, Communications Director