The Board updated Weaver Street Market’s Ends statement at its October meeting. One of the Board’s most important jobs is setting the Ends Statement, which defines WSM’s desired impact on the world. The new overarching Ends statement is a “vibrant, sustainable food marketplace,” which is an update from a “vibrant sustainable commercial center.” This change emphasizes that transforming the food system is the biggest impact that WSM can create.
The updated Ends statement emphasizes the co-op difference by defining the way we do business as “shared economics, shared community, and shared knowledge.” This change emphasizes that we are unique not only in what we sell buy also in the way that we sell it.
The final clause of the Ends statement stays the same: “For owners and potential owners.” This conveys that WSM serves current owners as well as an expanding community in the Triangle who value a neighborhood WSM store to shop and work and transform their community.
Taken together, Weaver Street’s updated Ends statement reads
A vibrant sustainable food marketplace defined by shared economics, shared community and shared knowledge for owners and potential owners
The updated Ends statement voices our expanded aspirations for the future, but it also reflects continuity with the progress we are making today. The overarching Ends—a vibrant, sustainable food marketplace—is reflected in Goal 1: Making healthy food tasty, accessible; Goal 2: Driving the growth of local and sustainable foods: and Goal 4: Use net zero energy, create zero waste, and promote responsible packaging.
Although the words “commercial center” were replaced in the Ends statement, the Board continues to value our role in creating vibrant downtowns and feels the new wording encompasses 2020 Goal 3: Invigorating downtowns.
The Board recognizes that WSM is a shining example of a thriving, community-owned business that uses a cooperative economic model. The key elements of that model are included in the updated Ends: “Shared economics”—meaning that WSM creates well-being for consumers, workers, and the co-op itself; “shared community”—meaning that WSM is a great place to shop, work, have fun, and connect with the local community and beyond; and “shared knowledge”–meaning that WSM spreads the co-op model and constantly solicits the best ideas from the community to improve what we do. This way of doing business creates a unique kind of community wealth.
Before revising the Ends, the Board checked for resonance with owners. The Board discussed the Ends update with owners at the Co-op Fair, which was attended by 300 owners, and at the Co-op Plan event, which was attended by 200 workers.
Over 1,400 owners responded to the survey about updating the Ends: 93% agreed or strongly agreed with changing the overarching Ends, and 92% agreed or strongly agreed with defining our business mode as shared economics, shared community, and shared knowledge.
Watch for our next blog post, which will present the data collected in the Ends survey.