December 2009

Members' discount rises to 5%

From Saturday 5th December, the discount offered to Co-op members rose to 5% - with a whopping 15% on offer to help rota volunteers. If you're not already a member, there's never been a better time to sign up.

November 2009

From Italy with love

The Co-op is pleased to welcome first pressings of a very special extra virgin olive oil, direct from the hills of the Gargano National Park in southern Italy. Two staff from Dublin Food Co-op, Pauric and Vera, travelled to Puglia to help the Olivieri family with the harvest and Lino Olivieri (pictured) has now returned with precious supplies.

The Olivieris cultivate more than 1,200 olive trees, some more than 200 years old, entirely without the use of chemicals. At harvest time, the olives are stone-pressed in traditional fashion. The result is a unique oil that the family describe as "a full-bodied, buttery flavour with hints of pepper, almond, vanilla and wild herbs".

Dublin Food Co-op's well-established relationship with the Olivieri family means that the oil has become a popular fixture on our shelves. Now, on Saturdays until Christmas, Lino will now be offering shoppers chance to sample just how good the oil is and to purchase five-litre cans.

For more information visit the Olivieri Olive Oil website.

October 2009

Changing spaces:

Moving the Co-op's core products area

Exciting plans are being made for the Co-op's 'front space' - the present office and meeting room plus a newly rented area at the very front of the premises.

September's 'Talkin' Co-op' was a consultation with members over proposals from the CB that the whole area be totally reconfigured as the new location for the sale of the Co-op's core products (packaged foods, personal care and household products), while retaining a small adjacent office space and moving the main office and meeting space upstairs. The move will free up part of the current main hall and make it easier to rent this space for other events.

John de Courcy, Chair of the CB, briefly explained how the proposal had emerged and the logic behind it. Attendees took a tour to familiarise themselves with the space, followed by questions and discussion.

Detailed notes were taken of the meeting. Architect plans and a copy of these notes are on display at the Co-op.

Since the meeting, further preparatory work has been undertaken and, as plans continue to take shape, all comments and suggestions are welcome.

September 2009

Get your Thursday veggies direct

The Co-op will now provide organic fruit and vegetables directly on Thursdays, rather than sales being via stall from a producer member (arrangements on Saturdays remain unchanged). This means that members' discounts will be extended to purchases of fresh produce on Thursdays.

And don't forget that the Co-op is now open earlier every Thursday, with the chance to take lunch in the chilled out vibes of the Co-op Café from 12 noon onwards.