2023 First Quarter Update

In our quarterly co-op update, PCC CEO & President Krish Srinivasan shares what’s on his mind as we step into spring.

Dear Co-op Member,

It is starting to look and feel like springtime here in the Pacific Northwest and personally, I am ready for longer and warmer days. I hope that the change in seasons greets you with celebrations, flowering gardens and the first hints of local produce, like asparagus and rhubarb.

We are marking 70 years of PCC Community Markets in 2023 — it is a momentous time to both reflect on the co-op’s legacy and look to the future. We began as a community of people committed to each other and to good food, and the co-op has been member-owned and -operated ever since. You — our members — contribute immeasurably with your care and commitment to shape the way we show up for our communities every day.

I hope you have been exploring and enjoying the exclusive deals and discounts with local businesses that are available to our members through the PCC Partner Program. From local arts and culture to fitness studios and wineries, this list of PCC partners is a great way to enjoy free items and discounts available across the Puget Sound region. You also can look forward to special offers each week that will help you explore and discover delicious products on our shelves. Members have an opportunity to enjoy more than $300 in value this year through our exclusive in-store offers — that’s fivefold the one-time fee of $60 when you became a member.

While there is much we look forward to celebrating with you this year, it is also tempered by the challenges we continue to face as an independent local grocer. Our 2022 financials will be published soon and they’ll look very similar to last year. We know that our community impact extends far beyond just a visit to the grocery store, and we hear, clearly, the challenges that our staff members face with food insecurity and economic pressures. Our commitment to a triple bottom line — holding environmental, social and economic goals equally — has always been a balancing act, but one that has felt nearly impossible to achieve since the pandemic began.

Through all these recent challenges, we did not shutter stores or lay off any staff — in large part because of our commitment to our mission. We did our best to allow the co-op’s values to guide us through each hard decision. This is not self-congratulatory, but rather just an acknowledgement that in the face of tough choices, our decisions are guided by more than just a financial bottom line.

There’s never been a more important time for our co-op to do what it does. You choose us because eating well is inextricable from the social and environmental impacts of the food you consume. Thank you, immensely.

Lastly, I invite you all to vote in PCC’s annual Board of Trustees election, which will occur online April 10 to 19. Voting takes only a minute but is an important part of assuring that your voice is represented in our governance and leadership. The co-op’s Annual Members’ Meeting will take place virtually on April 20 to share election results. Stay tuned for more information about the 2023 election, including introductions to this year’s candidates. 

Be well, 

Krish Srinivasan
CEO & President