News & Events

Win a romantic dinner for two just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Stop by Nature’s Bin to buy raffle tickets for your chance to win a romantic dinner for two just in time for Valentine’s Day!

The tickets are on sale now and the drawing is Feb. 10th. Dinner must be picked up by the winner who can make arrangements with the catering staff. Pick up date is flexible.

The menu includes:

• Herbed Chesse Crostini
• Mixed Green Salad, Strawberries & Almonds with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
• Chicken Breat Wellington or Vegetable Lasagna
• Fresh Herbed Vegetables
• Black Forest Torte
• Sparkling White Wine & Chocolate Truffles
• Bouquet of Flowers
• Candles

Nature’s Bin Featured in National Trade Magazine for Empowering Employees with Disabilities

Nature’s Bin is featured in the December issue of Natural Foods Merchandiser, a national publication for retailers in the natural and organic products industry.

The full-page, standing feature is known as “Retail Excellence” and the article is entitled “Nature’s Bin Empowers Employees with Disabilities.” It speaks to the core of Nature’s Bin’s mission in regards to helping people with disabilities develop their skills, confidence and workplace potential. In addition, the story showcases the uniqueness of Nature’s Bin in that it operates a natural foods market, yet it’s a nonprofit operated by Cornucopia, Inc.

“We are pleased to be featured in Natural Foods Merchandiser, said Scott Duennes, executive director of Cornucopia/Nature’s Bin. “Training and working with employees with disabilities is in our roots and a part of who we are. To be able to tell our story to a broader audience and share the rewards we experience daily at Nature’s Bin is something we are absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to do, added Duennes.

Nature’s Bin Reports Vitamin C Shortens Colds In New Study

Nature’s Bin, a full service natural foods market in Lakewood, reports a new review of 44 years’ worth of cold studies that found vitamin C, the herb Echinacea, garlic, and zinc helped shorten colds and reduce cold symptoms. Read more (PDF)...

Timothy Holmes of PNC Financial Services Group Elected to Cornucopia’s Board Of Trustees

Holmes will serve a three-year term and assist in community outreach. In addition, he will communicate with members of the business community and civic organizations regarding Cornucopia’s mission to help people with disabilities develop their skills, confidence and workplace potential. Read more (PDF)...

Sustainability Comes Naturally for Nature’s Bin

Now in its 36th year, the Lakewood-based natural foods market and its nonprofit parent organization, Cornucopia, live by a few simple rules of sustainability. Leading by example are 46 full-time employees and 19 part-time employees who recycle paper, cardboard, glass, metal, and plastics. Slip up, and they'll make it known. Read more (PDF)...

Robert “Tony” Brice of Towers Watson and Larry Johnson of Polyone Corporation Elected To Cornucopia’s Board of Trustees

“We are honored to welcome new members to the board of trustees,” stated Scott Duennes, executive director of Cornucopia/Nature’s Bin. “Cornucopia and Nature’s Bin have been a part of our local community for 36 years and its leaders such as Tony and Larry whose enthusiasm and commitment help keep our programs and mission alive,” added Duennes. Read more (PDF)...

Cornucopia/Nature’s Bin Awarded Three-Year CARF Accreditation

CARF International announced that Cornucopia/Nature’s Bin has been accredited for a period of three years for its Employment Services: Community Employment Services: Job Development; Employment Services: Community Employment Services: Job Supports; Employment Services: Community Employment Services: Job-Site Training; and Employment Services: Employee Development Services. Cornucopia has been continuously CARF Accredited since 1989. Read more (PDF)...

Nature’s Bin Executive Director Participates In Natural Products Expo Industry Experts Panel

Scott Duennes, executive director of Cornucopia/Nature’s Bin recently participated in a panel of experts at Natural Products Expo East, the largest natural, organic and healthy products trade show on the East Coast. The title of the program was “How Values, Service and Heart Drive Financial Success.” The session explored how mission-driven companies can maintain and foster their values, even in the face of growth pressures and tough economic times. Panel experts discussed fostering community and exploring the relationship between their companies’ missions and how their structure drives the heart of business. Read more (PDF)...

Awards Abound for Cornucopia/Nature’s Bin!

Nature’s Bin was recently voted West Shore’s Live Well Magazine’s “Best of the West” winner for organic food stores. The Best of the West competition is an annual poll of hundreds of West-Siders. “We understand the goodness and health benefits that organic produce and natural foods can offer, said Scott Duennes, executive director of Cornucopia/Nature’s Bin. “We pride ourselves in bringing our customers the freshest, most wholesome foods in the region and being voted Best of the West 2011 is icing on the cake.”

Cornucopia/Nature’s Bin was also named to the Plain Dealers list of Top Workplaces. The Top Workplaces evaluation was done in cooperation with the research firm Workplace Dynamics LLC. The Top workplaces are chosen solely on employee feedback. Cornucopia/Nature’s Bin was one of 132 workplaces chosen out of more than 1200 surveyed in the Greater Cleveland area. “We are proud to be one of the Top Workplaces in our region and honored that our employees feel the same,” Duennes said. “It is our employees that make Nature’s Bin and Cornucopia an outstanding place to shop, work and provide vocational training for people with disabilities.”

Are you a Nature’s Bin Healthy Shopper?

Are you a Nature’s Bin Healthy Shopper? Be sure to get your healthy shopper card so you can enjoy your rewards.

For every $500 you spend at Nature’s Bin, you will receive a $10 coupon for use on a future purchase.

It’s easy! Complete the Healthy Shopper Card Application and return it to the cashier at Nature’s Bin. You will receive a key fob shopper card. Use it every time you shop and you will receive your reward before you know it!

Celebrating Over 35 Years of Service

Cornucopia Inc./Nature’s Bin celebrated its 35th Anniversary on June 16th, 2010. While some people may know about all the organic and healthy food at “Nature’s Bin,” they may not be aware that it is owned and operated by Cornucopia, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people with disabilities develop their skills, confidence and workplace potential.

This beloved local, non-profit business began in 1975 with the idea that people with disabilities could learn real work skills in a real work setting to prepare for employment at a competitive level. “That idea may sound commonplace today,” commented Executive Director, Scott Duennes, “but in 1975 it was radical thinking.” Originally located in the “Birdtown” neighborhood of Madison Avenue, “The Bin,” as it was known then, provided training and employment for about 12 people with developmental disabilities each year. “Nature’s Bin on Sloane Avenue was developed in 1991 to expand on this successful model and to create a more flexible and responsive vocational training program,” Duennes explained. Since 2005 with the expansion of the store, this Social Enterprise has experienced record breaking sales year after year. Read the full press release (PDF)…

Love Nature’s Bin? Now you can wear it (or carry it) proudly!

Purchase Nature’s Bin and Cornucopia items from cafepress.com/naturesbin. From t-shirts to magnets, coffee mugs to aprons – this site offers easy shopping and a nice product selection to show your support of your local, organic and natural foods store, Nature’s Bin! A percentage of each sale will help support the vocational training programs offered by Cornucopia and Nature’s Bin.

Great Ice Cream is Always in Season

Nature’s Bin now carries Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in several great flavors including their signature flavor, “Salty Caramel.” Jeni’s Ice Creams are made with Ohio dairy from pasture-raised cows (no antibiotics, growth hormones, herbicides or pesticides), fresh ingredients found in the Ohio countryside and responsibly raised exotics from across the world.“Jeni’s Ice Creams” is family owned and made right here in Ohio. Yum!

Nature’s Bin Selected as “2009 Best of the West”

Nature’s Bin was selected as the West Shore Live Well Magazine’s “2009 Best of the West” winner in the Health Food Store category! West Shore Live Well (www.westshoremag.com) polls readers for their picks for Best of the West in over 60 categories including hot spots for dining, shopping, healthy eating, fitness, entertainment and more. If you haven’t been in for a while, stop by Nature’s Bin and see why so many of your friends and neighbors consider us one of the “Best of the West.”

Nature’s Bin Recognized for Commitment to Food Safety!

The staff at Nature’s Bin is proud to be recognized as a “Be Food Safe” award winner from the Food Protection Unit of the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. Nature’s Bin was recognized for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to food safety and sanitation by demonstrating several key components of a food safety plan.

“Like all facilities that handle and prepare food, Nature’s Bin is inspected by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health,” commented Food Service Manager, Josie Duennes. “Inspectors make regular visits to Nature’s Bin and always find a working “critical control points” plan and food handling log in place, a high level of knowledge about food handling requirements among staff, a record of regular participation in food safety classes and a clean, sanitary kitchen.”

Nature’s Bin Receives Beautiful Business Award!

Nature’s Bin was selected to receive this year’s Beautiful Business Award given by the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Keep Lakewood Beautiful Committee. Nature’s Bin’s award was for the Small Building Category.

After completing an expansion and interior renovation in 2005, Nature’s Bin has recently focused on sprucing up the exterior of the building. As a part of that effort, Nature’s Bin has pressure washed, repaired and stained the exterior wood of the entire building; replaced the striped awnings on the front of the store; re-surfaced, re-sealed and re-striped the parking lot; replaced the pole sign at the street and landscaped around it.

Reducing Our Environmental Impact

Nature’s Bin has made several Earth-friendly operational, physical plant and product adjustments. Changing the light bulbs was one bright idea, and distributing reusable shopping bags, stocking more bulk items and increasing our support for local farmers were others. Download PDF to read more, requires the Acrobat Reader.

Nature’s Bin in the News

Nature’s Bin was recently featured in the Lakewood Sun Post article “Bad Economy Good for Nature’s Bin” (download PDF, requires the Acrobat Reader) and on Natural Foods Merchandiser website.

Remember Your Reusable Bags When You Shop!

Nature’s Bin has discontinued the regular use of plastic grocery bags and is encouraging customers to use their reusable cloth, canvas, or string bags, or reuse the plastic bags they already have at home. The store will provide brown paper bags made from 100% recycled paper for those who forget their reusable bags. Reusable bags will continue to be available for purchase. Ask the cashiers how you can earn a 10% discount just by using your reusable bags when you shop at Nature’s Bin!

Nature’s Bin Presented National Charitable Activity Award

Nature’s Bin recently was honored to receive the Nutrition Business Journal’s annual Charitable Activity Award. Nutrition Business Journal is a national publication of New Hope Natural Media, a division of Penton Media. Scott Duennes, Executive Director of Cornucopia, Inc. and Nature’s Bin, accepted the award at the Natural Products Expo East in Boston. This national award recognizes companies that excel in integrating social responsibility in multiple aspects of their businesses. “This award is bestowed with both admiration and respect for your efforts on behalf of our industry,” said Katia Fowler, Editor, Nutrition Business Journal. Read more (PDF)...