Bulk Buying Club Best Practices Toolkit: A Guide for Community Organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador Prepared by Deborah Capps for the Food Security Network of Newfoundland and Labrador In collaboration with the Poverty Reduction Division, Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and the Health Promotion & Wellness Division, Department of Health and Community Services Updated May, 2011 1 Table of Contents Preface ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 5 What is a Bulk Buying Club? ........................................................................................................................ 5 Why Start A Bulk Buying Club? ................................................................................................................... 6 Getting Started: Steps for Success ............................................................................................................ 7 Step 1: Identify a Group .............................................................................................................................. 7 Step 2: Define Roles & Responsibilities ...................................................................................................... 8 Step 3: Establish Partnerships ...................................................................................................................... 9 Step 4: Look for Funding and Sponsors ................................................................................................... 11 Step 5: Find a Location .............................................................................................................................. 13 Step 6: Hold an Orientation Meeting ...................................................................................................... 15 Step 7: Develop Procedures ..................................................................................................................... 17 Step 8: Source Food ................................................................................................................................... 19 Step 9: Source Equipment ......................................................................................................................... 20 Step 10: Start your Bulk Buying Club ........................................................................................................ 21 Education & Skills Development ............................................................................................................. 22 Food Safety ................................................................................................................................................ 23 Support Your Members ............................................................................................................................. 24 Evaluation .................................................................................................................................................. 25 Tips for Successful Buying Clubs .............................................................................................................. 26 Appendix A: Are You Ready? Checklist ................................................................................................ 27 Appendix B: Sample Bulk Buying Club Brochure .................................................................................. 28 Appendix C: Basic Adult Education Principles ...................................................................................... 30 Appendix D: Sample Membership Application .................................................................................... 32 Appendix E: Incorporation for Non-Profit Organizations ...................................................................... 33 Appendix F: Food Safety Guidelines ...................................................................................................... 34 Appendix G: Sample Family Profile Form .............................................................................................. 36 Appendix H: Canada’s Food Guide ....................................................................................................... 38 Appendix I: Food Labels .......................................................................................................................... 39 Appendix J: Sample Record Keeping Forms ......................................................................................... 41 Appendix K: Tips to Save Money and Eat Healthy ............................................................................... 42 Appendix L: Sample Newsletter .............................................................................................................. 43 Appendix M: Sample Evaluation Forms ................................................................................................. 47 Appendix N: Important Links and Resources ........................................................................................ 49 Annotated Bibliography ........................................................................................................................... 53 2 Preface This toolkit is designed to assist community organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador who want to start a Bulk Buying Club in their community. It outlines key steps to starting a club, and provides a range of tools and supports that will help you organize a Bulk Buying Blub that suits your particular group‟s needs. The toolkit is based on best practices research drawn from a review of existing reports, resources, and guides on Bulk Buying Clubs in Canada, with particular attention to resources from Newfoundland and Labrador. The bibliography at the end of this toolkit lists the materials consulted in this review. This research was enhanced by key informant consultations with Bulk Buying Club organizers and participants from across Newfoundland and Labrador and elsewhere in Canada. The research, development, and writing of this toolkit was completed by Deborah Capps on behalf of the Food Security Network of Newfoundland and Labrador. This toolkit is one in a series of best practices toolkits, which also cover community gardens, farmers‟ markets, and community kitchens, available through the Food Security Network of Newfoundland and Labrador. 3 Acknowledgements The author would like to acknowledge the following people and agencies for support, resources and feedback in the development of this document: Carla Conway, Association for New Canadians Chantal Shea, Burin Brighter Futures Rod O'Driscoll, Brighter Futures Coalition Cheryl Coleman, Choices for Youth Bernice Hancock and Sheila Felix, Community Action Committee for Southwestern Newfoundland Family Resource Program Tom Webb, Manager, Co-operatives and Credit Unions, Nova Scotia Maureen Bethel, Renee Kent, and Janet Kergoat, Daybreak East End Downtown Family Resource Initiative Kim Pollard, Dover & Area Community Family Coalition Nicole Parsons, Dover Family Resource Centre Lesley Burgess and Margie Coombes, Eastern Health Sue Mercer, Exploits Valley Community Coalition Zahra Parvinian and Debbie Field, FoodShare Toronto Lamaline Family Resource Centre Melba Rabinowitz, The Organic Farm Laurie Pinhorn, Stella Burry Community Services Peggy Matchim, Vibrant Communities Lisa Ricketts, Vista Family Resource Centre Special thanks to the advisory committee for this project: Glendora Boland, Department of Health and Community Services, Health Promotion and Wellness Division Stephanie Buckle, Western Health Barbara Case, Rural Secretariat Sarah Frank and Linda Hillier, Labrador-Grenfell Health Douglas Howse, Department of Health and Community Services, Public Health Division Melodie Kelly, Department of Human Resources, Labour, and Employment, Poverty Reduction Strategy Dena Parsons, Department of Natural Resources, Forestry and Agrifoods Agency Editing support was provided by staff of the Food Security Network NL, including: Kristie Jameson, Executive Director Rick Kelly, Communications Coordinator Janna Rosales, Project Support Sarah Ferber, Project Coordinator 4 Introduction What is a Bulk Buying Club? A bulk buying club is a group of people with similar food preferences who come together to buy food in bulk. All participants of a bulk buying club are involved in the planning, shopping, sorting, and delivering of food. These clubs enable individuals to work with a group of like-minded people to get more with their food dollars. All Bulk Buying Clubs have the same underlying purpose: to provide nutritious food at a lower cost for a group of people. Note: A Focus on Bulk Buying Clubs There are three common types of bulk buying programs: Food Box Programs, Food Cooperatives, and Bulk Buying Clubs. Food box programs are typically managed by a third-party agency that buys food in bulk and distributes food boxes to members for a fee. Food cooperatives are legally incorporated cooperative organizations where members are owners, which gives them access to lower priced food purchased in bulk by the