From warehouse worker to Woodman’s youngest grocery manager during the early days of the Covid pandemic, Connor Hill brings his passion for the food industry to the Food Shed Co-op as the new center store manager.
Connor, who joined the store two months ago, is responsible for managing the center aisles and the refrigerated cases of the Food Shed—everything from dairy, meat and seafood to packaged grocery items and bulk products. That accounts for more than 60% of the Food Shed’s sales.
“The center store is the heart of the store and my job is to put product on the shelf,” Connor said. “It’s exciting but also challenging.”
For Connor that means being consumer focused, bringing in products customers want and will pay for.
“We don’t have the buying power of big corporate stores, so our goal is to keep prices competitive while holding true to the co-op’s mission,” he said. “I’ve always been a believer that people will come here if they believe in the mission.”
The Food Shed, a community-owned, full-service grocery store in Woodstock, Illinois, opened nearly two years ago. It began as an idea planted more than 10 years ago by a group of McHenry County residents. Their mission was to promote healthy food choices, strengthen the local economy, champion environmentally sustainable farming practices and empower the community.
Connor is especially proud of the local suppliers and their products that he has added to the shelves in recent weeks. Among those are Arrowleaf Prairie Farm meat and poultry, Miller Family Farm chicken and eggs, Pirro’s pasta sauce and Everette’s Coffee.
“It’s awesome working with these local companies, learning their stories, and then seeing someone grab their product off the shelf,” Connor said.
And a personal favorite of Connor’s is Cow Valley Creamery chocolate milk, a local brand that’s been on the shelf since the store opened.
From the community
A native of McHenry County, Connor began working in the food industry just after high school at Woodman’s Market in Carpentersville—first part-time in produce, moving to a full-time warehouse position then shifting to grocery management.
He was an assistant grocery manager by 20, the youngest grocery manager with Woodman’s at the time. Life was humming along then Covid happened. The grocery business experienced huge supply disruptions, an uptick in online grocery orders, illnesses among co-workers and Connor was navigating through it all.
The long hours and stress took its toll and prompted him to pursue a life-long interest in the military. He joined the U.S. Army 11 Bravo infantry unit, stationed at Fort Drum, New York. Served nearly three years active duty, including time in the Middle East before leaving the service in 2023 after a medical injury. He came home to Lake in the Hills and remembered his “bread and butter” was always in the grocery business.
Before joining the Food Shed late last year, Connor was the general manager for Kelly’s Market, a chain of family-owned gas stations and convenience stores located in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Today, he and his wife live in Woodstock and are expecting their first child this summer.
Bright year ahead
“I love grocery—I think it’s one of the most fun jobs of all time outside the military,” said Connor, noting he will always have great memories of serving and credits his growth as a manager to the skills he learned in the Army.
“Working as a grocery manager is all about serving the community,” he continued. “To me, the Food Shed is the perfect mix for what I’m looking for but also for what I can give. It’s a very communal store.
“We are starting off on a really good foot this year. I feel everyone believes in what we are doing and I know the community is behind us. I think 2026 is going to be a good year.”
Article by Food Shed Co-op Staff Member
Christine Stebbins
March 2026