real food happens here

Real Food Happens HereLocal Food Infrastructure, Programs, and Projects in

Urbana-Champaign

Todd SweetDirector, Common Ground

History

• Urbana, IL• Founded in 1974• Moved to current location in mid-2008• 3,550 Owners (last I checked)• $60 equity investment• 45 full and part-time employees• One of the fastest growing grocery co-ops in

the nation past four years

Voice of the Owners

Mission Statement (Our “Ends”)

1. The co-op is the center of a vibrant, inclusive community

2. The cooperative movement is strengthened3. The co-op serves as an educational resource on

food issues4. Our local food chain is more equitable,

robust, and environmentally sound.

Local (&Regional) Defined32 Local Sources

23 Regional Sources

Educating Consumers

Intertwined

80%

20%

Common Ground Sales

Regional & Other ProductsLocal Products

Economic Impact

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 $-

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

$3,000,000

$3,500,000

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

$573,225

$975,739

$1,599,813

$2,204,348

$2,914,751

12%

70%

64%

38%32%

Sales% Growth

On the Horizon: Expansion!

• Construction starts April 1, 2012• $2.5 million total project budget• $1 million raised from owners• 250% increase in retail sq ft to 5,580• Projected sales $5.6 million in 1st year• 65 FT/PT employees post-expansion

Breadth & Depth

Threats?

• Demand is obviously there, but will supply keep pace?

Bottlenecks: • Cost of farmland• Availability of farmland (zoning?)• New farmers• Regulations

Opportunities?

• Local food is huge economic development opportunity

• $2.3 billion spent by agriculture industry in Central IL buying inputs from outside the region.¹

• $3.9 billion spent by Central IL consumers on food from outside our region.¹

¹ Source: Ken Meter at Common Ground Co-op Grocery — Urbana, Illinois (September 10, 2011). Facilitator forstrategic planning session involving local planning, economic development officials and city council members, along with local foods leaders.

Thanks!

Todd Sweettmsweet@gmail.com

Presentation available at:http://toddsweet.com