real food happens here
TRANSCRIPT
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.
