Bakers cooperative raises offerings to its members

BY JUDY WAGGONER
FOR FOX VALLEY INC.

Who: Operating one company from three locations can strain the efficiency of any organization.

Since 1995 Valley Bakers Cooperative Association had corporate offices and a 35,000-square-foot dry warehouse in Neenah, a smaller 10,000-square-foot warehouse in Menasha and 1.5 million cubic feet of combined cooler and freezer storage space on 15 acres in Greenville.

Still, the bakery and foodservice wholesale distribution company successfully served more than 800 member-owner locations in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Construction began in May 2006 to nearly double the Greenville facility and was the "culmination of our long-term planning," said Mark Munroe, chief operating officer and executive vice president for the Association.

"The addition was completed Feb. 1 and we moved in over a weekend without missing one minute of service, "Munroe said.

What: Since it was started by a few bakers in 1949, Valley Bakers Cooperative has returned an average annual divided of about 2 percent to its member-owners that now number more than 400. Each dividend is calculated in proportion to a member's purchases from a 7,000-product inventory.

While the purchase of bakery and food-service items at wholesale prices is limited to member-owners, two other services offered by the cooperative are available to the public - contract cold storage and refrigerated transportation solutions.

About 90 employees enjoy the new smoke-free building that features a fitness center, upgraded wireless technology and a large diesel generator to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

"It's a great working atmosphere for our employees," Munroe said.

Why it's important: Although a fickle consumer base may tend to have ever-changing tastes, Munroe said the cooperative's ingredient business has been growing every year. "We feel good about the bakery business; it isn't declining and we still have mom-and-pop bakeries," he said.

For more information: Valley Bakers Cooperative Association, W6470 Quality Drive, P.O. Box 437, Greenville, 800-242-6461, 920-560-3200, www.valleybakers.com

Judy Waggoner can be reached by e-mail at pcbusiness@postcrescent.com