Co-op News | Winter Quarterly 2023
March Cheese Madness
The Co-op’s best cheeses will go head-to-head to earn your votes, but only one will be crowned the winner!
Throughout the month of March, a selection of the Co-op’s best cheeses will go head-to-head to earn your votes, but only one will be crowned the winner.
Taste and vote for your favorite cheeses each week. The final winner will be put on sale in April.
How it works:
1) Each week, the cheeses will face off in matchups, and the winners will move on to the next round.
2) Come into the store during a cheese sampling to taste each of the cheeses.
3) Vote for your favorite cheese from each matchup.
4) After voting, take a sticker that says "I Voted" to show off your love for your favorite cheese.
BONUS - If you post and tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, you will be entered into a raffle to win a free piece of the winning cheese.
Week Two Cheese Matchups:
Monday, March 13 (4pm-7pm)
Lamb Chopper vs. Fourme d’Ambert
Tuesday, March 14 (11am-2pm)
Morning Harvest vs. Gjetost
Friday, March 17 (4pm-7pm)
Jarlsburg Vs. P’tit Basque
Saturday, March 18 (11am-2pm)
Prairie Breeze vs. Marin French Camembert
Full Tasting & Voting Schedule
Week 1:
Monday, March 6 — 4 PM to 7 PM
Tuesday, March 7 — 11 AM to 2 PM
Friday, March 10 — 4 PM to 7 PM
Saturday, March 11 — 11 AM to 2 PM
Week 2:
Monday, March 13 — 4 PM to 7 PM
Tuesday, March 14 — 11 AM to 2 PM
Friday, March 17 — 4 PM to 7 PM
Saturday, March 18 — 11 AM to 2 PM
Week 3:
Monday, March 20 — 4 PM to 7 PM
Tuesday, March 21 — 11 AM to 2 PM
Friday, March 24 — 4 PM to 7 PM
Saturday, March 25 — 11 AM to 2 PM
Week 4:
Monday, March 27 — 4 PM to 7 PM
Tuesday, March 28 — 11 AM to 2 PM
Friday, March 31 — 4 PM to 7 PM
Saturday, April 1 — 11 AM to 2 PM
Cheese Madness FAQ
What is this?
A month-long competition that pits 16 of our best cheeses against each other to determine which one is best of the best. Customers taste and vote to determine which cheese will go on to the finale and be crowned the customer favorite! The winner will take a victory lap with a great sale price (50% off).
Who can participate?
Anyone who wants to!
Do I have to pay to participate?
No! You just get to taste some free cheese and vote on your favorites!
This sounds too good to be true, are there hidden consequences?
Not really. Events like this are what set our Co-op apart from other grocery stores. Staff from multiple departments in both our stores pulled together to make this happen, and many of our partners outside the co-op helped out by donated cheese and resources to make it happen.
How do I participate?
Come to the Co-op and look for our table under the big sign in the cheese section, we’ll be there starting March 6th, every Monday and Friday evening from 4:00 – 7:00, and every Tuesday and Saturday from 11:00 – 2:00.
How does it work?
During our sample events on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, come by the Cheese Madness table, set up under the big sign in the cheese department. We’ll have cheeses there for you to taste, and you’ll be able to vote for your favorite by picking up a bean and dropping it into the cup corresponding to your favorite. Please one vote per person per bracket. Each week, the winners will go on to the next bracket and keep competing until there is only one left standing.
Why are the sample days and times different? Confusing? Not every day? Etc
We tried to pick days and times that would allow the largest possible number of customers to participate, using the resources we had available. It wasn’t easy, but rest assured that our council of cheese tasting experts has crafted the schedule with the desire to make cheese tasting available to everyone! Or at least we did our best.
How do I get more information?
Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, or go to NorthCoast.Coop/CheeseMadness
Will my favorite cheese win?
We won’t know until all the votes are in. But maybe after tasting the winner it will become your favorite cheese. That’s the magic of Cheese Madness, anything is possible!
I heard there’s a podcast, is that true?
Yes, it’s called Cheese The Day. We’re the only local cheese podcast. For that matter we might be one of the only cheese podcasts put out by a grocery store anywhere! Head over to NorthCoast.Coop/Cheese or find it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. All the cool kids are listening.
