Sheboygan's Goodside Grocery plans for summer following difficult year

Correction: This story has been updated from an earlier version with the correct expected changes to membership dues, not store prices.

SHEBOYGAN – Goodside Grocery Co-Op of Sheboygan plans to revitalize after facing financial challenges the past year.

The local cooperative has dealt with "unforeseen circumstances" like competition, greenwashing from big box stores and national hits to the grocery industry, Kate Krause, co-founder, board member and volunteer and owner of Paradigm Coffee & Music, said.

Krause noted inflation felt by large stores equalized many of Goodside's prices for a period of time. But the store has struggled more financially, even with mobilizing volunteers to help run the day-to-day operations.

"Just having five people shop at a different store and not come get the staples from us has meant the difference between being able to pay our bills and not," Jen Balge, board member and volunteer, said.

With community support and upcoming plans, Krause hopes the group can "breathe new life" into the food cooperative.

Goodside Grocery is a food cooperative founded on principles of being member-owned, giving back to the community, supporting local vendors and farmers, and offering quality and sustainably and ethically sourced food.

It opened in the back of Paradigm in 2011 before moving to its brick-and-mortar in 2015.

A cooperative, or co-op for shorthand, is owned and invested in by members, which keeps decision-making in the hands of customers and resources within the community — two things often lost at large grocers.

Goodside has always been member-run and owned.

"That money goes right back into the community and small businesses in a way that doesn't happen in the big stores at all," Alyssa Seifert, interim manager, said. "We are really not for profit. We care about the money going right back to where it was spent."

Krause added the co-op is set apart because of its relationship with farmers, allowing them to have a "hyperlocal" lens to source sustainable and ethically produced foods.

Some partners include Sassy Cow Creamery, Old Plank Farms, Forage Kombucha and PortFish.

Balge said shoppers may have "sticker shock" when looking at Goodside's prices compared to other stores.

"We understand that those prices for some of the meat and the dairy might be a little bit higher than people are accustomed to, but it is because it's really high quality and it's by local farmers," she said.

Goodside is looking for ways to tighten margins and keep prices down.

In addition to supporting local farmers and vendors, Goodside also gives back to local organizations, like Bridgeway, a transitional home for single mothers and children, and DeLand Receiving Home.

During the pandemic, the co-op prepared weekly boxes of food for Bridgeway.

When people choose to shop at Goodside, Krause said there's a focus "not only on the health of individuals choosing hormone-free or specific lifestyle choices, (but) they're also choosing the health of their neighborhood, the health of their community."

She said they hope to offer more support when they are more financially stable.

No. Anyone can shop at the co-op.

Benefits of becoming a member include 10% off all purchases, discounts on special orders, access to most classes and events, and a chance to vote for the board of directors.

Goodside has kept its annual ownership per household at $35.

The co-op wants to make quality food accessible, so it also accepts food stamps and adds an automatic 10% discount for shoppers using benefits.

The co-op sells everyday staples like bread, milk, eggs and produce as well as snacks, natural cleaning supplies and toiletries, among a variety of other goods.

Many items, like spices, nuts, oats and seeds, are also offered in bulk.

Goodside plans to introduce a new bulk buying program this summer, which would allow a group of shoppers to buy a large volume of a good at a wholesale price, instead of at a more expensive retail price.

Krause said this will be ideal for customers who buy large quantities of specific goods. It will also help Goodside replenish products more efficiently.

The co-op will likely have to increase the annual membership but plans to give customers plenty of notice.

Goodside also hopes to throw a fundraiser this fall.

Balge said the No. 1 way to support Goodside is to shop consistently.

Some shoppers buy a load of groceries, others pick a few items they’re going to buy every month — it differs for everyone, she said.

"Depending on how they eat, who they're feeding — because obviously if you're feeding a family, you're making different choices if you're feeding yourself and your partner, or just yourself," Balge said.

Becoming a co-op member or renewing a membership and talking with family and friends about Goodside can also support the co-op.

Goodside Grocery is at 1131 N. Eighth St. and can be contacted at 920-694-0053 and [email protected]. The co-op is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays.

Follow Goodside on Instagram and Facebook at Goodside Grocery and @goodsidegrocerycoop, respectively.

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Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @alexx_garner.