Using your member number when you shop is important because it is how we determine your rebate amount. Your transaction totals are recorded at the registers and at the end of the year we run reports to determine your total purchase amount. We then total all the sales from members. Next, we calculate your total contribution to member sales as a percentage. This percentage represents your proportional share of the profits.

The checks that will be issued range from $5.01 to $76.98. Due to the associated administrative costs, we have determined a minimum check amount. We will not be issuing checks for less than $5. For those shoppers who have a rebate of less than $5, the co-op will retain the equity in an account, in their name. The Board can decide at some point in the future to return some or all of our retained patronage and choose to include these funds at that time.

Patronage rebates are aligned with the Third Cooperative Principle, “Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. . . Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative. . . supporting other activities, or distributed to members in proportion to purchases.” We are excited to be in a strong financial position and able to issue a patronage rebate. Thank you for making the co-op so successful.

Mary Beth Haas, Treasurer
on behalf of the Finance Committee and the Bloomingfood Board of Directors

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