Member Handbook

• Rebates paid on member purchases
• Competitive pricing structure (national account pricing)
• Guaranteed pricing (varies by contract)
• Guaranteed service levels
• Vendors process coupons and manufacturers' rebates
• Group strength while keeping your individuality

Up to six ways to save

1. Negotiated mark-up: approved vendors charge a fixed mark-up (a percentage or cents per unit, by product category) over their cost. ROC audits distributors' costs.
2. Off-invoice allowances: manufacturers' rebates and allowances are deducted directly from your invoice.
3. Rebates: most approved vendors pay rebates into your ROC account. See the vendor directory for each program.
4. Group volume incentives: extra rebates when the whole membership reaches volume levels.
5. Drop-size incentives: larger, fewer deliveries earn more. See Primary distributors.
6. Prompt-pay incentives: paying on delivery or within 7 days earns a discount. See Primary distributors.

Application fee

Both options require a $100 non-refundable application fee. Make checks payable to "Restaurant Operator's Cooperative, Inc."

More than one restaurant

One application and one $100 application fee cover all your restaurants. Restaurants under one Federal ID number share one $500 stock certificate. Each additional Federal ID number needs its own $500 stock certificate.

Resigning and your stock refund

Your $500 stock certificate is refunded if you resign as a Member In Good Standing. That means there are enough rebates accumulated in your account to cover yearly expenses up to the time you resign. If not, any shortfall is deducted from the $500 refund.

How rebates work

Purchases from most approved vendors earn rebates in your individual ROC account. Vendors may withhold rebates from members if they are outside of payment terms, so paying your vendors on time protects your rebates.

The monthly fee

ROC's office and operating expenses are covered by a monthly fee for each location, for each month its membership is active. The rate is the year's actual expenses divided by the total number of member months (every active location, every month). It's currently estimated at about $100 per location per month. It can vary from year to year, but has historically averaged between $85 and $100.

Year-end payout

The fee isn't billed monthly. At the end of the year it's deducted from your accumulated rebates and the rest is paid to you. If your rebates don't cover the fee, you'll be asked to pay the difference to keep your membership.

Several restaurants

The fee applies to each location, but rebates are pooled across all your restaurants that share the same Federal ID number. If one location's rebates are more than enough, the extra covers the fees for your other locations.

What both programs include

• Mark-up pricing: all products are priced on a percentage or cents mark-up formula based on the product category.
• Monthly rebates on your purchases, paid on accounts within credit terms.
• Group growth incentives when the whole membership reaches volume levels.
• Drop-size incentives: up to an additional 3½% on larger deliveries.
• Prompt-pay incentives: up to ½% for paying within 7 days and up to 1% for paying on delivery.
• Manufacturers' rebates deducted off invoice.
• Fuel surcharges limited or waived, depending on the distributor and your average drop size.

New and long-standing members often ask whether the ROC programs really work, whether the savings are real, and whether they'll earn enough to cover expenses. If you commit to the approved programs and use the savings opportunities our vendors offer, it's absolutely worth it.

How to get the most out of your membership

• Know the incentives each program offers: rebates, drop size, prompt pay and allowances.
• Consolidate deliveries to reach higher drop-size levels and avoid fuel surcharges.
• Pay on time to earn prompt-pay discounts and keep your rebates.
• Come to a board meeting. An hour or two there may be the best-paid time you ever spend.

• You're an owner: every Member-Owner holds a share of stock, which is their vote at the annual meeting.
• Member-elected board: 12 directors, elected by and from the membership.
• Open meetings: all board meetings are open to the entire membership.
• Savings go back to you: accumulated rebates, less operating expenses, are redistributed to members every year.

Open communication between the ROC office and our members is essential. The office and the board of directors need your input to represent the cooperative well.

1. Send it to the office, preferably in writing. Direct all grievances, comments and complaints to the ROC office, so each one is kept on file for future contract negotiations.
2. If you call instead, the office will write up your concern as you stated it and send that write-up to you.
3. Review, sign and return it. Make any needed changes, sign the statement and return it to the office.
4. The board handles it. Your grievance is brought to the board's attention and handled accordingly.

Email elaine@roc-restaurants.com, fax 518-456-9696, or mail 409 New Karner Road, Suite 203, Albany, NY 12205.

Log in to the member portal to view your account, purchasing data and the member directory.