Co-op Connects returns February 8, with the General Manager (GM) and two Council Members  

GM Mary Mullally and I will once more be in the café on Saturday (Feb. 8) from 2–3 pm, with an open invitation to members to stop by to talk about matters related to the council or to the operations of the store. Council member Steven Farnham will also be there. We’ll provide a choice of beverages. I look forward to seeing some folks there.  

How Willy Street Co-op in Madison, WI expanded from one store to a small chain 

How does a community-owned grocery store that’s bursting at the seams in its current location open a second location? Last week I was in Madison, Wisconsin and took the opportunity to visit the Willy Street Co-op, which went from a single store in 2010 to three in 2016. They also have an offsite production kitchen and, since 2024, an offsite “community space” for co-op classes and private rentals.  

Hunger Mountain Co-op has moved location and grown its footprint several times in our 52-year history. Our 10-year vision and plan from 2012 expected us to have opened a new store by 2022, but we’re still growing the business in the same footprint we’ve had since 2008, and the strains on the location are showing. I was curious to learn how Willy Street had managed the process. 

Anya Firzst has served as Willy Street General Manager since 1996, so she’s been part of both moving the main store location and opening the new locations. She described an expansion process that was a combination of an intentional search for new projects, failed attempts to secure new locations, and opportunities falling into their laps. (The process of opening their second store is described well in a case study by the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Cooperatives.) My take-away was that key parts of their process included both widespread discussions to discern their intentions—what were the top three priorities for the co-op in terms of new projects? —and hard-headed business analysis of the potential payback of specific proposals. 

We’re privileged to be in a strong financial position. We have identified the need for more room for our retail grocery business. Could we do more than run a grocery store? They’ve had that discussion at Willy Street; one person envisioning the co-op’s future there said, “I’d like to see them replicate the success in whatever way they think is best. It might not be another store; it might be something else. The co-op is a very successful enterprise. If you look at the ends policies, they talk about being an economic cornerstone. We should not rest on our laurels.” 

Our mission is not only “to create and sustain a vibrant community of healthy individuals [and] sustainable local food systems,” but also “thriving cooperative commerce.” The mission doesn’t limit us to groceries. Plainfield Co-op recently bought a hardware store. The co-op in the White River Junction/Lebanon region runs three grocery stores and a gas station (amongst other things). What’s next for Hunger Mountain Co-op? I hope our visioning later this year will identify exciting and realizable opportunities.  

Watch for information about the upcoming visioning process! 

Wrap-Up 

It seems our store was visited by internationally renowned Muppets last week. Ernie and Bert were spotted checking out the frozen foods section. Bert asked, “Do you want some ice cream?” Ernie replied, “Sure, Bert.” After that exchange, I’m not sure exactly what they bought …

—Carl Etnier, Council President

Do you have any questions or comments about the council? Do you know any jokes even faintly related to food and/or co-ops? Please email them to me!