Things are looking up at the Pioneer Food Market in downtown Troy, New York, as the co-op reaches a milestone that seemed in doubt just months ago—its one-year anniversary.
The return of college students to the city, coupled with changes in the co-op’s marketing strategy, have increased the number of non co-op members shopping at the store, said Bruce Storm, general manager.
Those sales offset what so far has been a generally lackluster turnout by co-op members, who now typically make up about half of all monthly sales.
The co-op welcomes all shoppers, but that message was hard to convey after the store opened Oct. 5, 2010, at 77-81 Congress St.
Disappointing sales, combined with high payroll costs, hurt the bottom line for months. Storm eventually convinced the board of directors that staffing had to be cut.
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