Medford Cooperative holds annual membership meeting

The Medford Cooperative, Inc., held its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 26 at the Centennial Community Center in Stetsonville.

Over ninety members were in attendance and were provided an overview of the 2022 financials and key updates on the growth of each business divisions. CEO/General Manager, Chris Piotrowski, highlighted how Medford Cooperative is performing. Topline sales grew +42% vs. one year ago. This resulted in Operating Income increasing +86% and Local Net Savings growing +57%. This strong performance will result in a +51% increase in patronage in the form of cash back and stock.

During the meeting, Piotrowski discussed that Medford Cooperative is more than the sum of its parts. The organization is built on a strong foundation of what they call the 4 C’s that represent the Cooperative, Community, Customers and Co-Workers.

As a Cooperative, it is important to continue to grow by investing in infrastructure and capabilities of services. This will allow them to remain independent and negotiate better costs with their supplier base. In Ag Services, they are investing in improved facilities, equipment and a new nutritionist & sales consultant to help producers run a more efficient operation. In Energy Services, they are investing in doubling the size of the customer service team, new equipment and capabilities to deliver full tankers of refined fuel directly to customers. In Retail Services, they are investing in expanded selections, the launch of new formats, and new digital capabilities.

Connecting with each community continues to be an important pillar. Medford Cooperative is supporting communities at the highest level in its history. This is done through local programs throughout the year. One notable effort is the Pride Pump Program, where the Cooperative has donated over $30,000 to local schools and libraries. Student scholarships have been increased by +33%. The Cooperative launched a new employee benefit that will help them support non-profit organizations through volunteerism.

Customers and members are at the center of Medford Cooperative. The Cooperative has doubled their customer service team and recently opened a new Customer Service & Support Center. They offer No-FEE ATMs at most of their locations, saving customers thousands of dollars each year on transactions. The most important element is that the Medford Cooperative has given back over $16 million dollars to its patrons over the last ten years.

The Medford Cooperative was formed in 1911 and is currently one of the fastest growing cooperatives in Wisconsin. For more information on becoming a member, stop by any Medford Cooperative business location to apply.