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June Newsletter Newsletter

ThegenerosityoftheGoodFoodscommunitycontinuestomakeameaningfulimpact ThankstoeveryonewhoparticipatedinourDecember2025"GiveWhereYouLive" registerround-upcampaign,theGoodFoodsCharitableFoundationwasabletoaward grantstotwoorganizationsmakingadifferenceinCentralKentucky.

GrantapplicationsarereviewedbyacommitteeofGoodFoodsstaff,boardmembers, andacommunityrepresentativewhoworktogethertoidentifyprojectsthatalignwith theFoundation'smissionandcreatepositiveimpactsinourcommunity

Thisyear,thecommitteeapproveda$1,000granttoGleanKentuckyfortheir NourishingtheCommonwealthinitiative.GleanKentuckyworkswithfarmerstorescue surplusfreshproducethatmightotherwisegotowasteanddistributesittofood pantries,shelters,andcommunitymealprogramsthroughoutthestate.Theirwork helpsconnecthealthyfoodwithpeoplewhoneeditmostwhilesupportingamore sustainablefoodsystem.

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PLANT SWAP PLANT SWAP

June 14 June 14 , 2026 , 2026 th th 11:00AM-3:00PM

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank our owners, staff and community members for continuing to believe in Good Foods Co-op. Over the past several years, it is no secret that this co-op has faced some very real challenges There were difficult financial realities, hard conversations, and moments where we had to take an honest look at what kind of future we wanted this co-op to have. And the truth is: preserving a community-owned grocery store in today’s retail environment is not easy

Independent cooperatives across the country are facing rising costs, staffing pressures, increased competition, and changing consumer habits. Many have struggled. Some have closed. But throughout all of that, this community continued showing up You continued shopping here even if it was a little out of the way, because you care about this place and what it represents.

This past year, the Board focused heavily on stabilization, accountability, and long-term sustainability And I am so happy to announce that, for the first time in a decade, Good Foods ended 2025 with a positive net income. No one is pretending that means the work is finished. But it does mean something important: It means progress is possible. It means this co-op is moving in the right direction. And it means the efforts of our staff, leadership, owners, and community are beginning to produce results I want to personally thank our General Manager, Holly Deering, and her leadership team. The amount of operational work that has gone into stabilizing this organization over the past year cannot be overstated

Most importantly, I want to thank our staff, whose hard work every day is what keeps our co-op moving forward. At its core, a co-op is not just a grocery store. It is a shared belief that community ownership still matters That local relationships matter That food systems matter And that people can still come together to build something collectively. That mission matters now more than ever.

What makes a co-op different is that this store exists to serve OUR community. It is built on our shared values and strengthened by our democratic principles It does NOT exist to enrich corporate shareholders or to maximize profits at any cost. When you spend your hard-earned dollar at the co-op, more of that money stays right here in our community supporting local farmers, local producers, local jobs, and a business that belongs to all of us

Thank you all for being part of this co-op and for continuing to help shape its future. On a personal note, like many of you, Good Foods has been part of my life for a long time and I want to see it not just succeed, but to thrive Because what we have here is truly special I worked in the café more than 25 years ago, and being able to help support the co-op today in my role as board president has been an honor and a privilege. Thank you all for your trust.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, I invite you to join us for a board meeting, which we hold in the community room the second Monday of every month at 6:30.

Jennifer Burnett Board President

A Recipe Worth Protecting

For the first time in ten years, Good Foods Co-op ended the fiscal year with a positive net income. On paper, $299.60 may not sound dramatic, but after ten difficult financial years, including a $412,000 loss in 2024, returning to break-even in 2025 represented real progress and an important turning point for our co-op. It represents stability beginning to return. And most importantly, it represents proof that the work being done across our coop is beginning to matter.

In 2025, Good Foods generated just over $10 million in revenue, increasing sales by more than $1 million from the previous year. Growth occurred across nearly every department of the store, including Grocery, Produce, Prepared Foods, Wellness, and Meat & Seafood. But while those numbers are important, what matters even more is what they represent: people continuing to invest in cooperation, community, and a shared vision for what a local grocery store can be.

Working in grocery retail has taught me that good things are rarely made from one ingredient alone. A recipe only works when every ingredient shows up and does its part. In many ways, that is exactly what this past year felt like at Good Foods

Our staff continued showing up through uncertainty and change with resilience and care. Owners continued shopping here and supporting this business. Board members made difficult decisions with the long-term future of the co-op in mind. Local vendors continued believing in us And our community continued choosing cooperation over convenience Everybody brought something to the table.

Last year, I called 2025 our “Year of Prevention.” Prevention is not glamorous work. It is the measuring, the preparation, and the careful attention happening behind the scenes the kind of work nobody notices when things are going well, but that makes all the difference when they are not.

Throughout the year, our focus centered heavily on strengthening operations: improving reporting, building accountability, evaluating labor more carefully, reducing unnecessary expenses, improving systems, and making decisions based on long-term sustainability rather than short-term survival. Much of that work happened quietly, but the results are now becoming visible. Compared to the previous year, liabilities decreased, equity increased, assets grew to more than $4 million, and operational performance improved significantly.

After ten difficult years, we are finally beginning to see proof that the recipe can work. And that matters because places like this are becoming increasingly rare. There are larger companies. There are corporations with bigger budgets and greater resources. But there are not many places left where a grocery store is still owned by the community it serves. Supporting Good Foods means more than buying groceries. It means supporting local farmers and producers, creating local jobs, keeping dollars circulating in the local economy, and protecting access to healthy food and community-centered business in a world that increasingly prioritizes convenience over connection. That is part of what makes this place special.

Reaching break-even does not mean the work is finished far from it. Every good recipe needs more than the right ingredients. It also needs structure, consistency, care, and people willing to continue tending to it over time.

That is why 2026 will be our “Year of Strengthening.”

As we move forward, our focus will be on strengthening leadership, strengthening operational systems, improving communication and accountability, continuing to build financial sustainability, and creating a stronger long-term foundation for our grocery cooperative. Our goal is not simply to survive from year to year. Our goal is to build a co-op that can continue serving this community for decades to come.

I hope the next time you visit Good Foods, you take a moment to appreciate the people behind this work the staff members who continue showing up every day to care for this co-op, our owners, and our community.

This team has worked through operational challenges, staffing shortages, uncertainty, and change with remarkable resilience, care, and commitment. Their dedication is a major reason we are able to share positive financial news and look toward the future with optimism.

To our staff, our owners, our local vendors, and our community thank you for continuing to believe in Good Foods Co-op and in what cooperation can accomplish together.

Holly Deering General Manager