Ways to Save: Special Orders & Shopping In Bulk
By Elissa Bower
Cooperative buying clubs surged in popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 80s, and many still exist today. Good Tern Co-op was founded in 1980 when Midcoast-area buying club members organized together to start a storefront. Good Tern Co-op members regularly drove to Boston to purchase large quantities of food from wholesalers and brought it back to Rockland for distribution among members and/or sale at the storefront. By doing this, co-op members could access foods at better prices and also have access to foods that were not necessarily easy to find elsewhere in the area.
While much has changed since the 80’s, the Good Tern Co-op still offers access to volume discounts on high-quality and hard-to-find foods for the Rockland community. As members of National Co+op Grocers, a business services cooperative for member-owned grocery stores across the United States, Good Tern is now able to access even better pricing from nationwide natural foods distributors. Because of the collective buying power of cooperatives across the U.S., we are able to access discounts and pass them along to our customers. Remember, anyone is able to shop at the co-op and take advantage of Co+op Deals and Co+op Basics discounts offered on items across the store. Folks who shop with EBT/SNAP are eligible for additional discounts on specific products (like local produce) through the Farm Fresh Rewards program.
Visit our Ways to Save page to learn more!
Shopping in Bulk:
When people think of shopping in bulk they may imagine getting large quantities of an item, or perhaps a store like Costco comes to mind. While you can purchase large quantities from us, you can also purchase exactly the amount you need! With a large selection of shelf-stable products in our bulk department, from spices to rices, you can purchase product by weight: whether its several pounds or just a tablespoon. You don’t have to be a member to shop, but co-op members can take advantage of 10% off full case special orders* from our distributors.
Get exactly the amount you need. Just like the good ol’ days, the co-op buys food in large quantities so our customers can break open a case and share the contents. Whether you’re looking for several pounds or just a few teaspoons, our bulk options give you the ability to buy a lot or a little of what you need. We can also do special orders for large quantities and items from our distributors that we don’t carry in-store. Bulk products are usually sold by weight.
Save money and avoid food waste by shopping bulk. We can help you avoid buying a whole package of an ingredient you only need for one recipe. Trying something for the first time? Buy just a little so it doesn’t go to waste if you don’t like it.
Reduce plastic waste by refilling your containers. We LOVE IT when customers bring their clean containers to refill with products in the bulk aisle. Don’t forget to record the weight of your empty container (aka tare weight) before filling it. All you need is the tare weight of your clean container and the PLU number of the item inside your container, and our cashiers take care of the rest. We also have bags and containers available to purchase if you don’t have your own.
In addition to bulk food products, we have bulk household products! Check out our selection of household products located on the endcap at the end of the wellness aisle.
While produce is not part of our bulk department, it’s worth noting that most of our produce is plastic-free. If you’re a small household and need just one potato, just one carrot, etc., our produce department is set up so that you don’t have to purchase a whole bag.
Special Orders:
Member-owners of Good Tern Co-op get a 10% discount on full case special orders*. Special order forms are available in-store and our staff will work with you to provide information about availability and pricing, and to facilitate your order.
Speak with a store associate in-person or give us a call to discuss special orders.
Customers can special order practically anything we already carry in-store! Our buyers can work with you to determine whether we’re able to source products from our distributors that we may not currently carry in the store. Please be aware that some products may be unavailable to special order due to long-term-out-of-stocks or other issues. Anyone is able to place special orders through Good Tern, however you have to be a co-op member to receive the 10% special order discount*.
Special order discounts apply only to full case special orders, meaning that you agree to purchase the full case quantity in which the product arrives. Case sizes vary depending on the product. For example, some products may come in cases of 6, 12, or 24. Other products may come in 25# or 50# bags or boxes. When you inquire about doing a special order, our buyers will let you know how much product comes in a case (or the minimum order quantity).
Special orders are a great way to save money if you go through significant quantities or make frequent purchases of a product. Special orders are also a great way to share savings with friends and family!
Get exactly what you need with a special order. Do you have a large pantry? Stock up and save money by special ordering bulk baking supplies and other shelf-stable pantry staples. Looking for large quantities of produce to freeze, preserve, or juice? Order a case of seasonally available fruit or vegetables from our produce department. Need a specific supplement or wellness product that we don’t carry? Our wellness buyer will work with you to see if we can special order it. Do you enjoy giving food as gifts? Special order a case of your favorite tea or chocolate bars for special occasions. These are just a few examples of the great ways to save with our special order program.
Are you looking to source food for your business? We can help with that! Visit our member-ownership page to learn about our Supporting Business Membership, and contact us here to inquire about placing special orders for your business.
*Please note that special order discounts exclude alcohol. The 10% special order discount does not stack on top of existing product or membership discounts. The 10% special order discount is available to Good Tern member-owners only.
As a consumer-owned grocery store, jointly-owned and democratically controlled by over 1,000 members, our mission is to meet the food needs of our community. The co-op exists to serve YOU, not corporate shareholders, and we strive to be affordable and accessible for all by offering the lowest prices possible while maintaining sustainable operations. We thank you for your support!
~ Elissa Bower, Membership & Outreach Coordinator
Click here to learn more about becoming a member-owner of Good Tern Co-op!
Feel free to contact us if you have questions!