<p>Cronig’s Market will withdraw from the popular Island Club discount program, touching off a stir of conversation on social media and in grocery aisles.
Cronig’s Market will withdraw from the popular Island Club discount program, touching off a stir of conversation on social media and in the aisles of the independent grocery store over weekend.
An email went out to Our Island Club members on Saturday, notifying them that Cronig’s and its health food store Healthy Additions would no longer accept the club card beginning Jan. 1, 2018.
“As one of our charter member businesses, we are disappointed by Mr. Bernier’s decision,” club founder Geoff Rose wrote. Mr. Rose followed up with a second email notifying members that Cronig’s plans to start its own discount program.
On Sunday, owner Stephen Bernier confirmed that was the case. “We’re going to do this ourselves,” he said.
Co-founded by Mr. Rose and Jonathan Bernstein 12 years ago, Our Island Club is a membership program where individuals, families and seniors pay a modest annual fee. Cardholders enjoy discounts on goods and services at participating businesses. There are more than 175 businesses that participate (including the Vineyard Gazette and Martha’s Vineyard Magazine which offer subscription discounts to cardholders). A small portion of membership fees is donated to various Island charities.
Mr. Bernier chats with employees outside store. In January, he plans to offer his own discount program.
Mr. Bernier chats with employees outside store. In January, he plans to offer his own discount program.
But by far the anchor business and arguably the strongest attraction for cardholders is Cronig’s, which includes two grocery stores (one in Vineyard Haven, the other in West Tisbury) and a health food store adjacent to the main store in Vineyard Haven.
On Sunday morning Mr. Bernier had parked himself on a low stone wall just outside the exit door at State Road Cronig’s. Sunday shoppers trickled out on a beach-weather warm day, and Mr. Bernier chatted amiably with many of them.
“When I saw that it was all over Islanders Talk [a popular Facebook page], I thought I better come down here and be available to talk to people,” he told the Gazette.
Cronig’s currently offers a 20 per cent discount to Island Card members.
Mr. Bernier said he has been in talks with Mr. Rose for some time about the program.
“I’ve been talking with Geoff for the past two or three years,” he said. “In January 2016 we went to 20 per cent, prior to that I went from 10 to 15 because I could see that Islanders needed help.” He continued:
“But then I began talking to Geoff about membership things .... and it became increasingly clear that the membership is more important than the mission.”
Mr. Bernier described recent abuse of the card by Islanders who have been paid by wealthy people to use the discount card to buy groceries. And he criticized the Island Club for excluding a class of people who may need the card the most. “Twenty five per cent of the people on this Island can’t vote,” Mr. Bernier said, referring in part to the Island’s significant Brazilian immigrant community.
To join Our Island Club, a person must be an Island voter, be employed on the Island or operate an Island business. Membership information appears on the Our Island Club website, in English and Portuguese.
Speaking to the Gazette by phone Sunday, Mr. Rose confirmed that there had been abuses but said he had been working with Mr. Bernier to solve the problems.
“The fact that there was abuse — we were working toward addressing that,” Mr. Rose said. “There were people who were abusing the card and we had conversations, we were addressing that. I thought we were working together to find a way to ... move forward together.”
He strongly refuted the notion that the club excludes members of the immigrant community and said in fact the opposite is true.
“They don’t vote but they work here and we have had an open door policy about that,” he said. “We have recognized there are segments of the population where . . . there’s a sensitivity. And we are very, very aware and sensitive to that population ... We have always tried to be inclusionary . . . let’s just say we [and Mr. Bernier] have a different perspective on that.”
Mr. Rose said the club is entering its 13th year and has 7,000 members. He would not speak directly about the impact to his business from losing Cronig’s.
“Our goal is to continue to work make the club stronger. We know there is value in the club membership and let’s hope members will continue to support the program,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Bernier said he plans to develop his own discount program for qualifying Islanders and aims to develop a different set of qualifying criteria.
“If you can produce a 1099 or a W-2 showing you work on Martha’s Vineyard, if you own one home or less, if you don’t support your living expenses from a trust fund ... it’s going to be as simple as that,” he said, adding:
“Geoff Rose says that’s class warfare. I say, it’s from the bottom up. I want the help to go to the people who really need it.”
He continued:
“This is my 31st year of business — and who comes through my door .... I want to be plain about it — we are all in this together. There are people who want to shop here because they want to be able to buy good healthy food to feed their families. We need to close the loophole. I’m passionate about that.”
Comments
I have depended on the island
MT AquinnahI have depended on the island club discount for quite some time now, and hopefully this new way of doing things will reduce the abuse Steve is concerned about. However, what I cannot understand is how some items at Cronigs are so much more expensive than S&S. Milk for example is a few dollars more per gallon - how is that possible? Coffee is also a few dollars more per lb. In some cases even with the 20% discount it is still less expensive to shop for some items at S&S and Reliable. Perhaps with teh new way of doing things this too will change.
I'm not sure which milk you
Mike West TisburyI'm not sure which milk you are referring to. I know that the Organic Valley Whole milk we buy(fyi, if you buy this kind, it's Ultra-Pasturized so it last up to a month without spoiling and we save by not throwing out milk) is $5.99 at S&S. 2 weeks ago it was $4.39(including 20% discount) at Cronig's, and this week it's $5.19. Perhaps the brand you buy is different...
My example of price gouging
susan Vineyard HavenMy example of price gouging is when i bought a chicken salad at Tony's for 9.99 a pound and Cronigs sold it that same week for 14.99 a pound. Both made by the same Boston Salad company. Really?
This is ridiculous. I never
Joel EdgartownThis is ridiculous. I never bought into the over inflated prices only to offer a discount model - Just like the used car salesmen method . The new Stop & Shop will finally deliver to the island an affordable option - very similar to what the Amazon/Wholefoods model is reporting - Cronig's will not survive 6 months after they move in - don't forget Stop & Shop is now competing with Amazon -
Can we please just get a
Christine VHCan we please just get a Whole Foods and call it a day? I'm so tired of overpaying for everyday necessities....
When the card came out, Steve
will B aquinnahWhen the card came out, Steve raised all the prices 20% so that he wouldn't loose any money. Now he is just being a monopoly. We should use Amazon's new food service until Island grocers support the island community.
I'm sorry to tell you, but as
Mike West TisburyI'm sorry to tell you, but as an island shopper who has been on a tight budget for a long time, I know for a fact that is not true. After tracking the prices of both Cronig's and S&S for awhile, I have found that most S&S items are at least .50 to $1.50 more expensive than at Cronig's( if you use the Island Card). There are exceptions, Mayo being one of them. But for the most part you only save at S&S if you shop exclusively from the sale brochure.
We've found the opposite to
WashAbhored EdgartownWe've found the opposite to be true for our family. Cronig's is 25% more expensive than Stop & Shop's regular prices and nowhere close to the S&S coupon/sale items (which run every week all year round).
I find that so many items in
Craig CHI find that so many items in S&S are on sale that I don't have to pick and choose what I'm purchasing, and the savings on those sale items translates into substantial savings when you combine the sale items with the everyday prices over Cronigs and the island card discount.
This is extremely
Laura LaVigne EdgartownThis is extremely disappointing. I occasionally use the Island Card at businesses other than Cronigs but the main reason I have it, is because I like to shop at Cronigs. I will be less inclined to bother renewing my Island Card and will be more inclined to do the majority of my shopping at Stop & Shop with only an occasional stop at Cronigs. I think the attitude behind this tends to break down the feeling of an "Island Community" working to support one another and I will be sad to see this change come to fruition.
"“This is my 31st year of
Dean Rosenthal Edgartown"“This is my 31st year of business — and who comes through my door .... I want to be plain about it — we are all in this together." One easy way to do that is just to lower prices. It *is* a kind of used-car salesman approach, raising prices only to give discounts, like one of the commenters above mentioned. But the message it sends to tourists and everyone ("we are all in this together") else who don't live here is this: "this is the price I'm going to charge locals and then there's the price I'll charge you." I'd think, "this is a scam". I can't say I'd be too happy about it otherwise. The point about the Brazilian population that have visas but do not have American citizenship and thus do not vote is taken well. There is a business plan to this, maybe it's collecting information about what people buy, collecting emails, etc. Since this move by Cronig's *is* happening, we'll see where it takes us.
No one is forcing anyone to
Hugh Weisman Chilmark and New YorkNo one is forcing anyone to shop at Cronigs vs. S&S. And the fact that Cronigs may have a different business model is fine...I haven't compared prices on an item by item basis, but I do sense that Cronigs (without a card) is more expensive. That said, there are more than a few specialty (and not so special) items that Cronigs carry that S&S does not; their produce is usually much more attractive (and often island grown); their butchers often go the extra mile, and Steve gives back to the Community in many ways. And if he wants to use a different formula (than the island card) for who gets discounts and who doesn't, that's fine with me.
There is no question that
Kristin Zern West TisburyThere is no question that prices are considerably higher at Cronig's compared to S&S for most items. Plus at S&S there are serious sales on many items from time to time. I've been in Cronig's during the summer and listened to the incredulous summer residents who look pretty rich explain. "The prices are so high I can't believe it"
To save money we like so many others have started getting household supplies and many foods directly from Amazon at a great savings over either store on MV. And many folks, ourselves included have started getting meal deliveries from Blue Apron and from the dozen of other meal plans which are consistently less expensive than going to a store and shopping for ingredients for the dinner menu.
I think that we don't need Whole Foods but we do need a Trade Joe's on the island!!!! Trader Joe's has pretty much eliminated the middle man in their effort to have good, fresh and interesting food available at bargain prices. Their mission when they started out was to do just that for the middle class teacher, nurse, who didn't make a fortune but wanted good and interesting food.
A combination of the internet services such as Amazon.com for food via delivery and the meal plans delivered to ones door step will make ordinary supermarkets obsolete like so many other industries have experienced since the turn of the century. We are witnessing a revolution on how we shop, how we eat and how we spend. And basically there is no way to avoid this shift. It will impact traditional supermarkets who don't think of ways to change with the tide and adapt.
These are good points. I am
Dean Rosenthal EdgartownThese are good points. I am pretty much against any chain store coming to the Island and it is still too bad that Cumby's and Dairy Queen are here, IMO, local versions would be best., we definitely didn't need a DQ. But I would agree to a Trader Joe's. It is the ONE business I can think of that would IMPROVE the quality of living here while maintaining the healthful Island character of responsible, affordable foods. I don't even think Stop and Shop would really mind - their product selection is very different. I'd be for it - frankly, to replace Cronig's. To add one with Cronig's still here would be tough. Maybe keep Cronig's up-Island and buy out the Vineyard Haven store. I think in addition to Cronig's down-Island is a tough call. But something needs to happen. It's ridiculous to pay these prices even with 20% off.
So you're against chains,
DownislanderSo you're against chains, unless it's the chain you like. And who are you to decide what the island "needs"? I'm a big fan of the Dairy Queen.
Between Cronig's, Stop and
pat w west tisburyBetween Cronig's, Stop and Shop, Reliable, local farm stands, Farmers' Market, and some smaller shops we have enough food options for all. Sure, we all like to drop by larger super markets or large chain food or other businesses when off-Island to stock up on bulk goods or specialty foods. No thanks...would not like to bring Trader Joe's, Costco, Whole Foods here. As for chains....plenty of folks are happy to have Cumby's and DQ. available Those who wish can go to one of many local ice cream shops or convenience stores too. Many would welcome a McDonald's for inexpensive family meals and a Dunkin' Donuts would be fun. Lucky us....to have so many choices!!!
I also believe we should get
Caroline Maruska EdgartownI also believe we should get Trader Joe's on the island. Imagine all the great food items we could buy at affordable prices!!!!!!
Going to the Island Clubs
Maleeka Washington OBGoing to the Island Clubs website, they claim to donate 20% of membership fees to charity. Lets assume on the low end for their revenue, and that all 7000 members are senior citizens paying $39.00 annually. That would be $273,000 gross revenues (of course its much higher due to family memberships at $89) The club claims to have donated $675,000 to date. That 20% would be $54,600 annually assuming all members were seniors paying $39.00 *which is unlikely*. PER their website, in 2015 they donated $39,882 listing various 'donations'. So it would appear that this is quite a cash generator for the owners of the island club. Simply taking the lowest possible denominators, it would be $273,000 less -$54.600 (20 pct of revenue)= NET $218,400 MINIMUM *if all 7000 members were seniors.* Is there an audit performed to verify that the money actually goes to charities as promised, or is their page from 2015 on their website the only source of information to rely upon.
My point exactly
Elyse WtMy point exactly
In this age of identity theft
Elyse WtIn this age of identity theft, the idea that you should give Steve Bernie your private financial information in exchange for discounts on exorbitantly priced groceries is inconceivable.
I'd like to hear more about
Charley Vineyard havenI'd like to hear more about the vetting process for Islanders. I would hate to think what the reaction would be if one Islander got a bigger discount than another Islander. I'd hate to think that hard work and success would disqualify someone. Bernier better do a better job at public relations. I'm sure ANY negativity would affect his business. Just say'n
We as vineyarders should open
Eric F. West tisburyWe as vineyarders should open a cooperative grocery store on island and we would own it and control it and all benefit from it.
Not sure if it is clear to
pat w west tisburyNot sure if it is clear to all readers that, according to a conversation I had with Steve Bernier recently, there will be no charge to enroll in the Cronig's discount program. Also, it will not require a card to be produced at each transaction. Membership will be kept on a store data base and a customer need only give name or possibly a membership number.
If I was a priest I'd forgive
If I was a priest Martha's VineyardIf I was a priest I'd forgive Steve for raising prices to offset the discount by the Island Card.
He tries, he is a master marketer in the old sense of the word. He buys the lot next to Stop and Shop and then makes sure competition will never be there by donating it to affordable housing. Brilliant unless you're stop and shop. He then creates his own card removing the Island Club politics of who wants it must be "from here". All in the meantime we're talking about Cronigs, we're talking up Steve's generosity and all missing that he's the master marketer who's getting free publicity for Cronigs from Islanders Talk, The Gazette and that other paper on island. You can't buy this promotion, he's getting it free. So with that free marketing he can afford to give a 20 % discount to us islanders.
Hahaha love it!
Margaret FloridaHahaha love it!
I think we are very fortunate
Annalinn Khosla Vineyard HavenI think we are very fortunate to have businesses that address and support the difficulty of living year-round on the Vineyard. I commend both Mr. Rose and Mr. Bernier for their work on our behalf. It is also an asset to have more than one grocery store on the Island. Best of all, I am grateful to live in a place where people take care of each other - from the small daily exchanges, the many fund-raising events to support one another in hard times, and the financial subsidies offered to Islanders by the business community. This is a great place to live.
Only solution is a Whole
Paul Adler Up islandOnly solution is a Whole Foods or scaled down Costco. Food and fuel should be a regulated commodity with at least one outlet offering prices maybe 10% over off island pricing.
Good news to my ears . . . .
Juleann West TisburyGood news to my ears . . . . I have been a consistent, loyal year-round customer of Cronig's for decades. I don't want to have to join a "club" in order to be considered part of the community. I hope other business owners will follow Mr. Bernier's lead and find a new way to make every-day products affordable. Perhaps a deep discount November through March when only true island residents -- voters or not -- grace the aisles.
I too find this approach new
Tom Ward Howard St. Vineyard Haven.I too find this new approach by Cronigs to be good news. Why should a middleman be involved at all?? In the third world there seems to be some middleman in so many transactions of commerce. The fees they extract are called bachshih in the East and mordita in the south.. It is when a middle party requires a fee to arrange a favorable price, outcome, ect. As for charitable contributions, I prefer to choose those to which I contribute, and do not enjoy being taxed, as it were, to support the unnamed causes of others.. I wholeheartedly support this change.
I find Cronigs has a wonderful variety of healthy, fresh and nutritious foods. Many of our families basics are cheaper at Cronigs. Their bulk grains, spices and other ingredients contribute to purchasing just the amount needed, keeping costs down, and keeping our ingredients fresh. Onions have been consistently cheaper in Cronigs for years, often half as much as at S&S..
We will be boycotting Cronigs
West West TisburyWe will be boycotting Cronigs and using Stop and Shop hereforth
I know many poor resident
Brian EdgartownI know many poor resident families who don't get the Island Card because it is $100 (not to mention language barriers, immigration status, and bureaucracy). While the Island Card has done a lot of good, I think Steve is right, it is time to move on to a more inclusive system. I am excited to see what the program is.
The ridiculous markups are
Bill VirginiaThe ridiculous markups are the reason I always load up in Falmouth before I get on the ferry. The Island grocers would do better if they didn't raise the prices so much. I understand a slight increase for the extra transport across the sound, but $9 for a dozen eggs? Really?
I don't really understand the
Jonathan EdgartownI don't really understand the fairness of the whole "Island Card" thing. It pits one group of people against another - card holders vs non-card holders - period. It should be done away with. And as for pricing at grocery stores - no one is forced to shop anywhere so shop where you want and pay what is asked or shop somewhere else. If people charge too much they will fail - period.
Did you know that Cronig's is
Martha MageeDid you know that Cronig's is charging $4.99 for one avocado? It's not even organic. Sorry, Steve. That is just not okay.
I'm not eligible for island
Summer person, WTI'm not eligible for island club nor will I be for Steve's new version. Cronig's prices are higher but as others have said, much produce is locally sourced and very fresh--much fresher than S&S things. For an up islander only on MV in the summer, the convenience of not having to fight traffic in E'town or downtown VH is well worth the slightly higher prices. Let's not forget that Whole Foods is popularly known as whole paycheck, and it remains to be seen how much that will change under Amazon ownership.
Astounding comments! "We
Steve (not Bernie) Vineyard HavenAstounding comments! "We should buy out Cronig's" and "We should run a coop". Clearly the writers have no idea of the cost or amount of work involved in either. You're unhappy? Stop & Shop has two locations. You want to open a coop? Your living room or mine? Go for it but please, please stop whining.
I look forward to seeing the
Betty Ann EdgartownI look forward to seeing the new cronigs card....I was shocked and sad to hear they would no longer excepting the Island Card...
I really don't like the direction the Island card was going in...
I think the focus was more about rasing revenue to support the so called Medical Marijuana business"
Numerous organizations, non-
David R White West TisburyNumerous organizations, non- profits among them, find important independent ways to give ongoing breaks to their constituencies, mine (The Yard) among them - via memberships, age/education/service categories, even free to schools and working young adults. I hold an Island Card, and use it faithfully at Cronig's (and Conroy's) because it's there. But I will gladly continue shopping (at what usually seem reasonable prices) with Steve's discount because of a basic truth: Cronig's is perhaps the most generous corporate benefactor on the island, whether in dollars or more importantly in the wide, inclusive range of annual giving. (Full disclosure: Cronig's added The Yard to its grantee list just a few years ago). I hear this complaint about mark-ups that then get flushed by Island Card usage. But what no seems to be arguing is that what people are targeting for some unclear profit motive, is actually Cronig's commitment to financial social giveback to all sectors, to organizations small and large, that bind our community together.
Okay, pay a little more for precious kale - you just tangibly invested in Vineyard House. Or youth hockey at the Arena. Or even a dance educator working with your child at the Charter School or an elder relative at Windermere. The list is surely near as long as the Island Card directory of participants.
These are good works, supported by a unique grocery business philosophy and driven by a remarkable man, not a corporate suit, a guy who finds no pleasure greater than sweeping his parking lot clean each morning. You shop at Cronig's, you buy into that vision, you partner in the outcomes spread wide not only on your dinner table but across the Vineyard. Not even Trader Joe can guarantee that.
You pick your charities, I'll
deshandra brown EdgYou pick your charities, I'll pick mine. Its no excuse for any business to jack up prices because they choose to be a 'benefactor' to select organizations. All of these cards and clubs are a bunch of gimmicks. The reality is, here in the island certain businesses can charge what they want, with no worries about losing customers (think: gasoline, perishable foods) Many island businesses do suffer if they lose customers to Amazon and other online marketers. Make no mistake about it, even the food stores will feel the pinch when Amazon/Whole foods and Walmart offer free shipping for many grocery items that we are rountinely gouged for here.
If you regularly shop at
Islander MVIf you regularly shop at Cronig's, with or without the card, you do not have to live within a strict food budget. Lucky you. Who is actually paying for the generous, highest "benfactor" category donations to your organization and to all the others? People not on a food budget who don't care that this 'generous' man is chaging them $14 a pound for cherries,$11 with the card. Both are rip-off prices. Sorry, but privileged elitism is just too expensive for the rest of us.
Let's face it Steve Bernier
Patty Miller ChilmarkLet's face it Steve Bernier only cares about his bottom line. He doesn't care about the islanders at all. His prices are RIDICULOUS. We will never shop there again.
It's his business, of course
Amy EdgartownIt's his business, of course his main concern is his bottom line. As a fellow vineyard business owner, I am ever grateful that consumers do not try to tell me how to run my business.
I was told by a Cronig's
Jeffrey WTI was told by a Cronig's staffer that the program is designed to help the less fortunate, however, I see a lot of Cronig's employees buying there food at S&S, that alone speaks volumes. I would much rather see Steve spend time in the produce section in as apposed to cleaning the parking lot in WT. Summer is not bad, off season is a different story.
"Meanwhile, Mr. Bernier said
Down Islander"Meanwhile, Mr. Bernier said he plans to develop his own discount program for qualifying Islanders and aims to develop a different set of qualifying criteria.
“If you can produce a 1099 or a W-2 showing you work on Martha’s Vineyard, if you own one home or less, if you don’t support your living expenses from a trust fund ... it’s going to be as simple as that,” he said, adding:
“Geoff Rose says that’s class warfare. I say, it’s from the bottom up. I want the help to go to the people who really need it.”"
I was not that happy with the concept of the Island Club. That is, I didn't "get" it. NOnetheless in the end I got one because it paid for itself with the few items that I buy at Cronig's on a regular basis.
But I also don't "get" Bernier's concept, as described in the quote section.
Is this going to be a "means-tested" membership? The wealthy need not apply?
Are illegal immigrant prioritized? Or are they excluded?
Very unclear to me.
Why not just ahve an S&S-type card? That gives access to all S&S specials.
Done.
Steve and Mr. Rose clearly
Carl Andrews 'TisburySteve and Mr. Rose clearly had a falling out and I am disgusted with the outcome. Mr Rose's only concern is marijuana, marijuana, marijuana and Steve''s only concerned with the profit, profit, profit. I have contacted the IRS , the attorney general and WBZ's call-for-action to see what we can do as a community. I have reached out to Stop&Shop and I was delighted to discover what they have in store for MV. Cronig's will have to compete , compete and compete.
I agree Carl. It is
Shelly Klein TisburyI agree Carl. It is outrageous what Mr. Rose is making as profit in disguise as a non-profit. It is shameful. I think a closer look at this so-called non-profit would be beneficial and an eye-opener to all islanders. Steve is a wonderful man and a great business man and I am grateful that he is no longer part of Mr. Rose's business model. My hat goes off to Steve and everyone at Cronig's- you have my support and business forever!
Our Island Club is not a non
Islander MVOur Island Club is not a non-profit. It is owned by two people, Geoffrey Rose and Jonathan Bernstein. Steve Bernier was involved in the founding of it, about 13 years ago. Is there something wrong with making a living if your name isn't Bernier? You have a problem with two local business owners of a small business who not only made a livelihood for their own families, but donated part of the membership fees to charities and scholarships for years? Steve Bernier owns 3 stores on the island, 2 supermarkets that charge more than other island markets, and one store,'Wealthy Additions' that is so overpriced that it's always nearly empty. Yet Mr.Bernier rakes in so much money that he can afford to proudly show his name in many of our arts organizations' printed programs as one of the biggest donors on the island. How do you think one man can afford to do that? That's very nice for our arts organizations, not so nice for those who struggle with their need to eat. There is a name for people like Mr Bernier and it is not Robin Hood.
Very good news to hear I will
Tom Ward Howard St. Vineyard Haven.Very good news to hear I will no longer be required to support a middleman to be treated as a a year round patron.
Again, islanders, we miss it.
Chris OBAgain, islanders, we miss it. We appllaud "true" islanders getting a discount. Yeah for us, again. But time and time we fail to see that the second home buyers pay a tax (yes a payment to the land bank is a tax) to buy here which helps to keep the island pristine for all of us. Those bad people that rent and bring tourists here which bring us money, they should get nothing because they are rich (not the local plumber who charges 3x mainland prices, he is not rich!). Those horrible people should not get our discount because we are the real islanders ( but we're not prejudice in anyway)! If we were smarter we would offer a discount card to everyone and charge a fee, so yes even the week long renters and summer folk would buy it BUT only use it part time. Then we could take all that cash and split it with the businesses and the community. But no, those bad part-timers and tourists should really stop coming altogether because we don't need them - except for our livelihood.
They charge ridiculous prices
charlie callahan so boston/edgartownThey charge ridiculous prices, even for the vineyard
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