The Co-op Q&A With Ray Jolicoeur

This month, we interviewed new member Ray Jolicoeur who is lending his in-depth sustainable food marketing perspective as the new marketing committee chair.

Q: When did you join the Co-op and what were some of your first impressions?

A: I joined five months ago. I walked by the Co-op many times before joining and noticed that it was often closed. My wife encouraged us to join recently. So far, I think it’s very empowering to be a part of this working co-op, where you have to get involved and be engaged!

Q: Where are you from and what neighborhood is home now?

A: I’m originally from Montreal, Canada, and I’ve been in NY for 10 years. The last five years, I’ve been in Bed-Stuy.

Q: What role are you playing at the Co-op?

A: My first assignment was shift leader where I was assigned the task of refilling shelves and taking care of orders and deliveries that come in. Just stocking shelves to me was rewarding -- making sure they’re full and attractive to the customers. Then, last month, I began getting more involved on the marketing front. I’m still just starting, but I walked into a board meeting and DK invited me to join the meeting. As conversations were flowing, there was discussion about having a new marketing team member. Eventually, I’ll be the marketing coordinator.

Q: What drew you to the marketing committee?

A: I’ve been involved in marketing for my whole career and I’ve focused a lot on food marketing. I also managed my own beverage company for the last 15 years. Now, at The Startup Farm, I work with food startups and help them grow their business -- talking about packaging improvements, formulation improvements, operations, etc. I’m also interested in and aware of how people want to be more mindful of what they consume -- not just in terms of sustainable food, but everything from clothing to the news.

Q: What are some of your favorite products at the Co-op?

A: My favorite is the locally made kombucha -- I always fill up the big jug. It’s a great value and it’s great tasting! And it brings me back here -- when the jug is empty, I know I have to go back to the Co-op. The chocolate selection and cheese section are great value as well.

Q: What would you like to see the Co-op become?

A: I’d love the Co-op to continue to offer a better selection of products and improve our communication with our members! Finally, I’d love for the community to see the Co-op as a resource. There’s a growing yearning among a lot of people to know where their food is coming from -- to be more mindful of it -- and this is a great opportunity to be involved in that process!