As the newly elected President of the Food Shed Co-op Board, I’ll be using this space each month to share an inside look at how our community-owned grocery store is growing—the progress we’re making, the lessons we’re learning, and the exciting opportunities ahead. My goal is to keep you connected to this business we own together—to celebrate our wins and to show how we’re continuing to strengthen the co-op you helped build.
When we opened our doors in May 2024, we weren’t just starting a grocery store—we were bringing to life a shared dream: a store built on cooperation, not corporations, where every purchase supports local farmers and producers.
As President, it’s deeply important to me that we live our mission and values every single day—not just talk about them. I’m committed to making sure the words we use—LOCAL, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABLE, HEALTHY, ETHICAL, and RESILIENT food choices that nourish our COMMUNITY—remain more than attractive signs on our walls. These ideals are why we built this store: to make a difference in the world, starting right here at home.
But it’s not just up to me. We all need to look for ways to lean even harder into these values—by deepening relationships with local producers, finding more sustainable ways to operate, and ensuring every department reflects our shared commitment to health, ethics, and community. These are the principles that set us apart from any other grocery store in McHenry County—and they’re the ones that will guide our success for years to come.
Like any young business, we’ve faced our share of learning curves. Inflation has driven up costs, and a leadership transition earlier this year naturally slowed our momentum. Challenges with our national distributor (UNFI) and our own internal systems also led to sparse shelves in recent weeks.
But today, thanks to our new management team, momentum is building again—and we’re getting stronger every day. Our shelves are filling up, operations are stabilizing, and our leadership team is focused, innovative, and fully committed to our mission and values. They’re now partnering with experienced retail consultants from the cooperative world to strengthen operations, expand product offerings, and continually enhance your shopping experience. Every week, you can feel progress taking root—bringing our shared vision for this store, ten years in the making, closer to reality.
It’s worth remembering that every co-op needs time to find its rhythm and financial footing. While we’re not yet financially stable, we’re making steady progress—and with continued community support, we can get there even sooner.
As 2025 winds down and the holidays approach, please consider including the Food Shed Co-op in your year-end giving. Through our fiscal sponsor, you have the opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation that will help us reach financial stability sooner rather than later—strengthening this community-owned store for years to come. Please see the separate article in this month’s Owner Beet for details on how you can make a donation and support this important effort.
What matters most is that we’re learning, adapting, and improving together. Now we need our community’s continued support to keep this momentum growing and reach the financial stability that will secure the Food Shed’s future. Every purchase, no matter how small, moves us closer to that goal. Bring a friend, tell your neighbors, and share your favorite local finds on social media. Every cart, every visit, every donation, every conversation helps turn progress into permanence—and ensures this store becomes the vibrant community gem we’ve all envisioned.
We built the Food Shed Co-op to make a difference—to keep food dollars local, support local and regional farmers, reduce food waste, and prove that cooperation can work in today’s world. Together, let’s show what’s possible when a community works side by side to shape its own future.
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 (November 2025).