Wintergreen Natural Foods

PRESS RELEASE

 

On Thursday, May 11, 2023, the board and members of Wintergreen Foods Co-op met to discuss the future of the store. Many options and issues were discussed, but ultimately a two-thirds majority of members voting consented to a motion to close Wintergreen. After years of lagging sales due to changing shopping habits, the co-op was no longer able to continue operations without a drastic change. For 46 years, Wintergreen has provided members and non-members with natural, local, and organic foods. For the first several years, Wintergreen ran the co-op out of a private home, and later opened a store near the Seed House. It has gone from being volunteer run to having a paid manager and staff. 

 

For the past several years the board of directors, many dedicated members, and the manager and staff have attempted to renew interest in the store and increase sales. Despite additional advertising and social media presence, the store has continued to experience declines in profits and is no longer able to sustain the store.

 

The store will close by May 31, and will be selling off its remaining inventory for the rest of the month. With the consent of the members present at the May 11 meeting, it was granted that the board of directors may sell the name and the contents of the store to a private party if there is any interest in taking over the Wintergreen brand.

 

On behalf of all the members of the co-op, the board of directors wishes to extend its heartfelt gratitude to the community for their support and memories over the years.