A Kelowna co-operative grocer with a focus on locally grown and seasonal foods could be forced to close up shop after a slow May.
One Big Table has served the Kelowna community for nearly two years at its downtown St. Paul Street location, but a dwindling cash reserve has left founder and co-operative director Giulio Piccioli asking if it91裸聊视频檚 feasible to stay open.
On June 25, One Big Table aired its financial strife in a public plea on Facebook.
91裸聊视频淭he situation has been delicate for a few months and because of the month of May, we decided to reach out to our members first and to the community as a whole,91裸聊视频� Piccioli said.
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91裸聊视频淚n May, we went from barely above the water to below the water essentially.91裸聊视频�
To ensure the doors can stay open, One Big Table staff asked its nearly 1,200 members to bring friends in to the shop, buy gift cards and spend a little more on each visit.
91裸聊视频淭he most important one is to come to the shop and support us,91裸聊视频� he said.
Piccioli hoped the Facebook post would start a conversation about participation and the biggest question he91裸聊视频檚 asking is does the shop provide a service deemed necessary in the community?
91裸聊视频淲e have had lots of community support,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淔irst and foremost from our members91裸聊视频攚ho are our owners.91裸聊视频�
Piccioli said if members spent $5 extra per visit, 91裸聊视频渋t would put us in a position where we91裸聊视频檙e not as worried.91裸聊视频�
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Now, the co-op director is asking members and the public to join One Big Table for its annual general meeting July 10 at the CoLab Space at 1405 St. Paul Street. Anyone interested can save their spot for the AGM on .
The company91裸聊视频檚 financials have been released online in order to prepare shareholders before the AGM to encourage a 91裸聊视频渂etter conversation,91裸聊视频� Piccioli said.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not asking something that is too difficult to reach,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭he main goal is to spark a conversation with our members first and the community as a whole.91裸聊视频�
The struggles the local food grocer is experiencing is evident of a larger problem, Piccioli said.
91裸聊视频淭here is a big argument to be made around the real cost of food and that conversation of local isn91裸聊视频檛 relevant right now due to the high cost of food,91裸聊视频� he said.
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The prices of the goods and produce sold at One Big Table support local farmers in the Okanagan. They represent fair wages and best businesses practices, said Piccioli but the cost is often undesirable compared to bigger chains stores.
91裸聊视频�(These prices) are a clear reflection of what goes into food production, rather than importing foods from different parts of the world,91裸聊视频� he said.
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