We want to share important news regarding our monthly member discount program. Beginning August 4th, 2025, Three Rivers Market will pause the 10% monthly member discount on a single visit, as we work to develop a more sustainable benefits program that aligns with our cooperative values. This decision was made after great consideration, with the goal of strengthening our shared future and ensuring long-term vitality for our cooperative.
As a reminder, Three Rivers Market is more than just a store; “Three Rivers Market is a cooperative center of sustainable commerce that exists to benefit its members by creating and nourishing a healthier environment, healthier people, and a healthier community.” Transparency is core to our work, so we wish to share with you more about the history and reasoning behind this change.
For those unfamiliar with the history of member discounts at Three Rivers Market, for many years, the store offered quarterly “Member Discount Days” on designated weekends only. During these weekends, members had the opportunity to take advantage of a 10% discount on a single shopping trip.
In January 2019, a change to the program was made to allow 10% off a single shopping trip of each member’s choice each month, in anticipation of a streetscaping project on Central Avenue that made accessing the store more challenging. This change was intended to be proactive and temporary, to motivate members to continue to shop regularly and offset the nuisance of nearby construction and interference with traffic patterns.
During the pandemic, the 10% monthly discount program continued as an owner benefit when many in our community struggled. Sales growth at that time, in combination with funds from the Paycheck Protection Program, meant the cooperative was able to continue absorbing monthly member discounts and still generate positive net income, allowing the Board to return profits to members via patronage dividends in higher proportions than is typical.
Further key factors that have informed this decision include:
- Employee Treatment. Personnel costs have risen as a result of inflation, and the cooperative continues to be committed to offering living wages and a strong benefits package. Substantial investments have been made in staff training and education, including retail management training, conflict resolution, food safety training, HR certification, public bookkeeping certification, and meat processor academy continuing education. It is expected that personnel expenses will continue to rise, as we are committed to continuing to provide liveable wages, comprehensive benefits, and development opportunities to all employees.
- Aging Facilities & Equipment. Three Rivers Market has occupied its current building since 2011 when an existing structure was renovated. Our building is showing signs of wear and tear, with some issues dating back to the original renovation, and others appearing slowly over time. Further, pieces of equipment relied on for storage, preparation, and display are reaching the end of their lifespan, with some requiring expensive repairs and some requiring replacement. This has resulted in increased repair and maintenance costs.
- Concern for Inequity in Financial Benefits to Members. In years the cooperative is profitable, the Board votes on how to allocate profits in order to best meet our ends. One possible outcome is the issuance of a patronage dividend to members in the form of store credit. These dividends are issued to each member in proportion to their patronage at the cooperative throughout that previous year. In years without profit, dividends are not issued, but members who utilize the 10% discount with our current model receive preemptive financial benefit. We believe it is a more equitable approach to issue a patronage dividend annually when it is supported by the financial success of the cooperative, and so that financial benefit is proportional to each member’s patronage during that year.
- Peer Comparison. As part of our ongoing monitoring processes we compare data on our member discount totals to peers. Compared to other similarly sized co-ops, in 2024, TRM spent 144% more on discounts than the average peer, and 266% more than the top performing peers, over $146K in additional expense.
- Maintaining Affordable Prices. We understand the current member discount program may be a substantive part of what attracts some members to purchase in our store. However, the nature of the current program means it can be difficult to predict how much will be issued in discounts to members in any given period, and on which items, which makes controlling for necessary profit margins problematic and can, in effect, require higher prices overall to offset discounts.
Your input remains essential as we shape a benefits program that best serves our community. Here are some ways you can participate:
- Share Your Ideas: Complete our member benefits survey (open through July 31) to tell us what benefits you would like to see in the future.
- Get Involved in Governance: Drop in to an upcoming TRM Talk session with Board members. Consider joining a Board committee, such as the Owner Engagement or Board Perpetuation committees. We welcome new members – email us at board@threeriversmarket.coop, if interested. Attend our monthly Board meetings for updates and to share your ideas.
- Share Feedback: Whether regarding member-led governance or staff-led operations, we are eager to hear from you. Reach out via email to the Board (board@threeriversmarket.coop) or our General Manager (gm@threeriversmarket.coop).
Thank you for your continued support, understanding, and dedication to our shared vision for a thriving market. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient cooperative community.
With gratitude and in cooperation,
Three Rivers Market Board of Directors and Fadi Aboush, General Manager