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Small Bites
June 25 2025
Creating opportunities to support & amplify regional food systems, not only in Vermont by sharing info & resources for relocalizing.
| | The Grocers Project has had a busy June with our mini online series for stores & farmstands with Jeanie Wells, known nationally for the Mighty Community Markets classes. We have had everyone from Hanover -Lebanon Coop to small self-operated farmstands learning retail practices for success at all levels of operation. It has been a great group with so much info for these volatile times. This unique series fits the bill for every kind of food store, from small rural community supported stores to multi-location interstate coops. We have also been working directly with stores with our team of consultants. | | |
Topical to the series, on June 5th UNFI a national distributor had a cyber attack which shut down services for the better part of two weeks. This of course had significant impact on stores of all sizes as for a period, no products went out the door, then it became sporadic & not necessarily products stores usually purchase. (It is hard to reach budget projections when you are shorted food for nearly two weeks).
The 'middle of the supply chain' impacts were directly tied to vendors' existing purchase orders as much as empty shelves at stores. Shoppers may not have paid attention to 'why' natural foods selections were so bleak for the better of part of two + weeks. up for sales. When a distributor is unexpectedly shuttered, we now know first-hand just how tied in our food shed is.
Also just this month Keene, NH based C&S Wholesaler announced it is set to acquire Spartan Nash for $1.77 Billion. Privately owned C&S which sells to stores in all 50 states, seeks to purchase a publicly traded one, whose stock price has shot up with the announcement. The food distributor will be adding 200 grocery stores & comes after it played a role in the 2024 Albertsons Kroger merger which was defeated due to antitrust concerns. This merger will expand to 60 distribution centers, increase service to 10,000 independent stores & expand to 200 corporate run stores. Mega businesses consolidation will be felt throughout the supply chain with impacts at both retail & with suppliers.
For more info that impacts local & regional sales, check out the goings on in distribution & grocery through our pal Errol Schweizer's Grocery Nerd's Substack. He is always worth the time!
Read on for current touch points brought to you through the VT Grocers Project with focus on Vermont & seasonal products of ice cream & summer treats.
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June is Dairy Month
We love June in Vermont. It is after all National Dairy Month. We are all about the milk from our farms occupied by cows, goats, & sheep.
The beauty of our landscape & our farmers is that we make world class products from creemees to cheese.
At Red Hen Bakery where they make their own cones, their creemees are locally known as THE BEST in Washington county. Long known for their breads & pastries sold wholesale to stores & farmstands, but when summer hits, it all about the cone.
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Increasing Sales 40 %
Morrisville Food Coop has been investing in staff hiring & training. The results are showing up as revenue. As a member of NCG, an association supporting coops through their buying power & support services the Coop is utilizing the tools & services available.
A change in produce managers brings a favorable skill set overseeing purchasing, merchandising, vendor relations, & receiving with an enthusiasm that is making the department a success. Yes prices are higher than last year contributing to an increase in sales, but with deliberate buying across the vendors & proper displays to push sales, both May & June are well beyond past sales. 400 pints of strawberries is proof that the decisions are working (& the season is still going with late- season berries)
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Three members of the coop team are attending the National Co-op Grocer's Focus on Fresh conference this week. Sous Chef Jen & Chef Elizabeth from our Grab 'n Go team & Celine, the Cheese Buyer, are tasting & learning about new products with this expo featuring more than 100 deli, bakery, cheese, produce, meat & seafood suppliers.
They are participating in educational workshops & networking with peers from across the country. When they return they will be applying their new info to improving all aspects of deli & cheese, along with other useful tidbits to increase sales & margin.
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We Like What We Are Hearing!
Our 3-part mini training series with Jeanie Wells has been great. And it's not just me telling you! Check out a few of the many comments from attendees. With one more session this week, I know the content will be equally as valuable.
Knowing more about how margins work, differentiations between segments, helps me as a marketer
Margins are especially sensitive during economic uncertainty, so it's important to have a pulse on everything in the store.
It's equally important to understand the WHY behind products in stock
Record keeping and the use of a system. Very helpful!
Our distributor sends us their suggested retail pricing. We will be looking at this closer and seeing if the margins should increase or decrease based on movement
This is all very new to me and great to hear about how pricing and margins are approached and what things to look for for long term sustainability
The Morrisville Coop is also participating in our series with Jeanie Wells, who often presents at NCG conferences.
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ACT 129 Defining Local Products
Wilcox Ice Cream aligns with the definition of processed foods:
Made from ingredients not regularly produced in Vermont or not available in sufficient quantities to meet production requirements. They can still be “Vermont” food when it satisfies the “unique food” criteria. Two or more requirements must be satisfied
•The majority of ingredients (meaning more than 50 percent of all product ingredients by volume, excluding water) are raw agricultural products that are “local” to Vermont;
•Substantial transformation of the ingredients in the product occurred in Vermont; and/or
•The headquarters of the company that manufactures the product is in Vermont
Wilcox Ice Cream is by Vermont
definition a "Local" product as they are headquartered & produce in Vermont with substantial transformation of ingredients.
Store POS systems can add the "local" attribute to this product for tracking sales which adds data to the NEFNE regional economic impact research,
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Wilcox Drives Sales
Wilcox Ice Cream & Specialty Foods in Arlington, VT has been building their family business for five generations. Always with an eye for honoring those who came before them, siblings Chris & Craig continue to positively drive sales & Craig even drives the trucks!
Since acquiring Lesser Distribution on June 1st they have expanded sales well beyond their standard orders to include the full line from Lesser -Goodman's American Pie to Sherpa Foods are just two that are finding new outlets.
To prepare for expansion, Wilcox invested in new equipment, storage spaces for inventory management, purchasing & retrofitting trucks. It is investments such as these infrastructure that allows them to expand sales of Vermont products to the region. Craig has taken to driving the newest one called "The Porche" for its sweet ride!
There is always a shift that takes place as systems of one business are melded into another. The beauty of these two local businesses is that working together is straight up Vermonting. Vendors may have to shift some of their operations to match new pick-up times or increase production. Stores may have alter receiving times, & customers may find the transition a short-term inconvenience as the routes are built out. But we hear it has been extraordinarily smooth for vendors & stores. Word on the street from stores, suppliers, & the distributors themselves is that a supportive structure is in place. A certain irony is that UNFI really rankled product availability while Wilcox is a smooth transition.
Speaking of smooth transitions... It is June & Strawberry Rhubarb Ripple Ice Cream season. Available for a limited time in pints, quarts, 48 ounces & at select scoop shops. The Wilcox family operation looks forward to continuing to honor the values that go back generations. Congratulations to the entire team on your steady, yet incremental growth.
| Big Howie is a top seller June treat at Burlington's City Market. Wilcox has honored the family patriarch with the ice cream sandwich that is flying out of the cooler this week. | |
Goodman's American Pie
If you don't already it's time to get in the groove-check out this feature on WCAX. Goodman's based in Ludlow has been making their wood fired pizza & selling wholesale through Lesser Distribution. The full line of pizza is shipped through Wilcox which will no doubt increase the delivery area to more stores & farmstands as steady sellers all year long.
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Adventure Foods
for Summer Sales
It's not yet high summer but it felt like it earlier this week. Vermont is the place to chill out with our mountains, rivers, lakes, & creeks. Creating displays that highlight our easy to eat treats might not take your sales over the top, but it will satisfy shopper's needs for their outdoor adventures & road trips in & around the region.
Be prominent with your "fun food for summer" displays of Sherry's Trail Bars, Battenkill Wholesome, Garuka Bars. They are some of our small companies competing in a well-funded competitive category with national pressures. Our companies ship DSD to stores & farmstands.
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Farmers as Retailers:
OH MY! Season Extension
DANG! In mid-June farms are able to have strawberries, the end of asparagus, early hoop house tomatoes, zucchini & even cukes because they have invested in the equipment & staffing to push early sales.
Many of the crops are sold direct to consumer on farms capturing a high retail margin before field crops come on in the height of summer season. The early season push is also exciting for shoppers who grab the flavors of summer while it is technically Spring!
A big shout out to all the farmers who have invested in the infrastructure for sales at their farmstands & at farmers markets. For those with pick your own operations, the early crops add to the daily till as increased revenue.
| On June 28th NYC will be all abuzz for the Good Food Mercantile held the day before SFA’s Fancy Food Show. For 15 years, our little state has always been well represented with our outstanding food makers & crafters. The event showcases products & is a chance to meet buyers from around the country. This year they will toast winners of 15 Years of Good Food Awards. | | |
Apologies for any oversights & typos as there is much to process right now,
with the potential to over look details
Created with gratitude for the support from the Canaday Family Charitable Trust
We directly support the New England State Food System Planners Partnership effort to strengthen the regional food economy.
Contact: Annie Harlow
smallbites802@gmail.com
All info is subject to change. One small bite at a time.
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