Business of the Year - Retail/Wholesale: Monadnock Food Co-op

Modern grocery stores may have rows of checkout lines and massive aisles half the length of a football field chock full of products, but Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene has created a welcoming place that makes sure no matter a person’s economic situation, everyone in the community can access healthy, locally produced food.

Monadnock Food Co-op’s first employee, Michael Faber, who previously managed a few co-ops in Western Massachusetts, now serves as the store’s general manager, overseeing day-to-day operations and helping meet the goals developed by the Co-op’s board of directors.

The Monadnock Food Co-op celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023, has grown to about 140 employees and has expanded the footprint of the store to serve more people. It is also focused on retaining employees by raising wages, profit sharing, and promoting from within. 

Faber says co-ops can provide advantages for local communities that big grocery stores leveraging economies of scale to buy in bulk can’t offer. Those advantages include supporting local farmers and providing healthy food choices in the community. “Everything we do is in support of our member owners and that benefits the community overall,” he says. “Our focus is much broader than just selling groceries. And we put a huge emphasis on making sure our products are accessible. As we’ve grown, we’ve gained greater buying power and have been successful in lowering prices.”

In 2023, the store contributed $75,000 to support 84 community organizations. It worked with the Monadnock Sustainability Hub to install Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Stations. It also installed 46 solar panels on the building’s roof to generate on-site renewable energy and established a Farm Fund to provide grants to help local farmers weather climate-related emergencies.

Monadnock Food Co-op provided $91,000 in discounts in FY 2023 through its “Healthy Food for All” program, allowing customers that qualify for SNAP, WIC, unemployment, or SSI benefits to sign-up for its in-house program and receive a 10% discount every day. This year the co-op became an approved Women Infants and Children (WIC) retailer.

By 2023, the Monadnock Food Co-op reached $20 million in sales, 4,680 member owners, donated $290,000 through its “Round it Up” program, and provided $152,000 in Farm Fund grants. “[We] continue to look for ways to increase the impact we’re having in our region,” Faber says, adding, “We’re also exploring the idea of opening a second store.”