Celebrating Our First Anniversary

April 8, 2022

Happy Birthday to us! On Saturday April 2 we celebrated our first anniversary and threw a huge party! It was an electric day that set records for sales and the number of folks in the store! One year ago, April 1, 2021, we opened our community-owned grocery store. With your support, our staff’s amazing hard work and lots of great, healthy food, we’ve had a very successful first year!

A huge thank you to all the folks who’ve made the plunge and changed where they buy groceries. It’s actually a big deal to start a new habit and shop in a different place. You don’t know where everything is, they don’t have all the same stuff you’re used to, etc. We get it. All that said, so many of you have become regulars and we couldn’t be happier. But of course, we still get new customers who are making their first visit to the store and it’s great to hear how those folks heard about us. Often it’s by one of our regulars sharing what a great store they think the Co-op is.

Of course we love our owners . . . they helped us get this beautiful store built, but we love ALL our customers. Can you believe that lots of folks still think that you have to be an owner to shop at the Co-op? We want to make it clear that you do NOT have to be an owner to shop at the Fredericksburg Food Co-op. This is an issue that co-ops around the country deal with, so this is not a problem unique to us, but you can all help by spreading the word. Tell your family, friends, and neighbors that the Co-op is a grocery store Open to All . . . no membership needed.

Thank you so much to everyone who helps spread the word to their friends and neighbors about what a great store we’ve created here. I really mean it when I say WE created this. From ownership equity and owner loans in the beginning to your shopping choices and feedback/suggestions since we’ve been open, this really is a store that needs and listens to our customers.

This truly is a grocery store built by and for the people of Fredericksburg. Sure, we have ideas and models about what works, but we want to make sure this store is what our owners and customers need. If you haven’t given us any feedback yet, please do. You can reach out on social media, by email (gm@fxbgfood.coop), or drop us a line in our suggestion box in the store.

With every day and every note of feedback, we’re improving the Co-op shopping experience. Thank you all so much for your support. We look forward to seeing you in the aisles!

Cooperatively Yours,

Chris Roland
General Manager
Fredericksburg Food Co-op