Food Shed Co-op Wins National ''Up and Coming Co-op Citizen Award''
September 16, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Food Shed Co-op Wins National “Up and Coming Co-op Citizen Award”
Woodstock, IL, September 13, 2025 — The Food Shed Co-op is proud to announce it has been awarded the Up and Coming Co-op Citizen Award, a national recognition presented by Food Co-op Initiative, the nonprofit championing startup food co-ops.
The award honors co-ops that exemplify Cooperative Principle #6: Cooperation Among Cooperatives by actively supporting and uplifting peers in the startup food co-op community.
Food Shed Co-op earned this recognition for its strong cooperative spirit—generously sharing tools and learnings from its store opening in May 2024, participating in peer calls, and openly discussing its post-opening journey so that other co-ops could learn in real time.
“While we have worked hard on getting the Food Shed Co-op up and going, it is equally important that we do our part to help grow the healthy food movement everywhere by sharing what we have learned with others,” said Scott Brix, Board Vice President of the Food Shed Co-op. “Winning this award is a tribute to the generosity, collaboration, and commitment our community lives every day. We’re especially honored to have been nominated in such terrific company—with Purple Carrot Market in Little Falls, Minnesota, and the Third Ward People’s Food Cooperative in Houston, Texas—two very worthy contenders. Together, we’re building a healthier, more resilient food system for northeastern Illinois,
just as they are for their communities in Minnesota and Texas.”
The award was presented at the Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on September 13, 2025.
About the Food Shed Co-op
The Food Shed Co-op is a community-owned grocery store in Woodstock, Illinois, dedicated to providing local, sustainable, clean, and wholesome food while strengthening the local economy and fostering a vibrant community. Opened in May 2024, the co-op is now owned by more than 2,654 member-owners from the community and welcomes all shoppers, members or not. Learn more at www.foodshed.coop.
Food Shed Co-op, 2390 Lake Shore Drive, Woodstock, IL 60098 | 815-687-8480
About the Food Co-op Initiative
Food Co-op Initiative is a nonprofit organization that leads the startup food co-op movement through convenings and education, making resources available to communities across the country working to start new food co-ops. For more information, visit www.fci.coop.
Media Contact:
Food Shed Co-op
2390 Lake Shore Drive
Woodstock, IL 60098
815-687-8480
www.foodshed.coop
Food Shed Co-op Wins National “Up and Coming Co-op Citizen Award”
The award honors co-ops that exemplify Cooperative Principle #6: Cooperation Among Cooperatives by actively supporting and uplifting peers in the startup food co-op community.
Food Shed Co-op earned this recognition for its strong cooperative spirit—generously sharing tools and learnings from its store opening in May 2024, participating in peer calls, and openly discussing its post-opening journey so that other co-ops could learn in real time.
“While we have worked hard on getting the Food Shed Co-op up and going, it is equally important that we do our part to help grow the healthy food movement everywhere by sharing what we have learned with others,” said Scott Brix, Board Vice President of the Food Shed Co-op. “Winning this award is a tribute to the generosity, collaboration, and commitment our community lives every day. We’re especially honored to have been nominated in such terrific company—with Purple Carrot Market in Little Falls, Minnesota, and the Third Ward People’s Food Cooperative in Houston, Texas—two very worthy contenders. Together, we’re building a healthier, more resilient food system for northeastern Illinois,
just as they are for their communities in Minnesota and Texas.”
The award was presented at the Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on September 13, 2025.
About the Food Shed Co-op
The Food Shed Co-op is a community-owned grocery store in Woodstock, Illinois, dedicated to providing local, sustainable, clean, and wholesome food while strengthening the local economy and fostering a vibrant community. Opened in May 2024, the co-op is now owned by more than 2,654 member-owners from the community and welcomes all shoppers, members or not. Learn more at www.foodshed.coop.
Food Shed Co-op, 2390 Lake Shore Drive, Woodstock, IL 60098 | 815-687-8480
About the Food Co-op Initiative
Food Co-op Initiative is a nonprofit organization that leads the startup food co-op movement through convenings and education, making resources available to communities across the country working to start new food co-ops. For more information, visit www.fci.coop.
Media Contact:
Food Shed Co-op
2390 Lake Shore Drive
Woodstock, IL 60098
815-687-8480
www.foodshed.coop
