A couple of weeks ago, I reached out with a clear message: our co-op needs its owners to show up. And you did. Thanksgiving week brought some of our strongest traffic in months, and it was energizing to see so many familiar—and new—faces in the store. Thank you for stepping up, filling your carts, and supporting the co-op we built together.
To the 93 owners who completed our recent survey—thank you as well. You’ll find a summary of the results in a separate article in this month’s Owner Beet. Please know that both the Board and staff are digging into your feedback, and we’re committed to acting on the ideas and concerns you raised.
Beginning this month, you’ll also notice a new feature at the top of the Owner Beet: a concise set of business metrics intended to give you better visibility into how our store is performing. Each month we’ll share four key indicators—Total Sales, Transactions, Sales from Owners, and Basket Size. Together, these provide a 30,000-foot snapshot of the co-op’s financial health and momentum.
To offer context: we need weekly sales of at least $65,000 to break even, and eventually more so we can reduce our debt—including debt owed to many of you. We also aim for at least 50% of our sales to come from owners, a benchmark common across food co-ops nationally and a strong indicator of owner engagement. Basket size and transaction counts help us understand whether our business is growing, shrinking, or staying steady. Over time, we hope these numbers become familiar touchpoints that help you track how your business is progressing.
Still, we’re not out of the woods. Last week’s sales softened again, underscoring how essential steady, consistent shopping is to our financial strength. Every visit matters. Every purchase helps. And every owner who chooses to shop here instead of elsewhere moves us one step closer to long-term stability.
Another powerful tool in the co-op tradition is volunteer participation. For generations, food co-ops have relied on owner-member involvement to build community, strengthen relationships, and reduce operating costs. We are bringing that spirit back to life at the Food Shed Co-op. New volunteer opportunities are emerging to support store operations, assist at events, and help care for our building and grounds, e.g., pulling weeds in our pollinator garden to name one. Your time and talent can make a meaningful difference—especially now, as we keep a close eye on expenses.
Finally, as we bridge the gap between start-up realities and long-term financial stability, we expect to reopen our preferred share offering just after the new year. This will give owners another opportunity to invest directly in the business they helped build. For those who have the means—or who may be looking to make a charitable gift before year-end to reduce their tax burden—we also offer direct donations as well as a fully tax-deductible option through our fiscal sponsor. Every contribution, in any form, strengthens our cash reserves while we continue growing sales to the levels needed for long-term independence. Click HERE to visit the Donate page on our website.
We’ve shown—once again—that when our community suits up, we move forward. Let’s keep that momentum going through the holidays and into the new year. Together, we can ensure the Food Shed Co-op becomes the thriving, resilient community asset we always envisioned.
Happy Holidays,
Scott T. Brix, Board President
This article was originally published in the Owner Beet newsletter as part of the Cultivating Cooperation series by Board President Scott Brix (December 2025).