Financial Operating Status

Over the last several weeks, we have shared with the community that the Co-op is facing serious financial challenges. This has not been easy news to deliver, but we believe honesty and transparency are essential to the trust we share with our owners, shoppers, and neighbors. The strength of a co-op comes from its community, and in difficult moments like this, it is especially important that we communicate openly about where we stand.

Below you will find the messages and updates we have shared publicly. Our goal is to keep everyone informed about the realities we are facing, the steps we are taking, and the path forward that we hope to build together. We remain deeply grateful for the continued support, care, and commitment shown by so many members of our community.

If you have questions, would like additional information, or wish to reach out directly, please do not hesitate to contact us. We value your engagement and appreciate your willingness to stay connected during this important time.

In Cooperation, 

Jessica Bosworth
General Manager

Phyllis Webb (Board President)
pwebb@berkshire.coop

Kitty Kiefer
(Board Vice President)
kkiefer@berkshire.coop

Jessica Bosworth
(General Manager)
Jbosworth@berkshire.coop

Your Support Means So Much To Us!

Key Takeaways from
The Open Owner Forum

Thank you to all the Owners who attended last night’s Open Owner Forum, both in person and via Zoom. With about 80 Owners physically present, and another 60 via Zoom, it was truly inspiring to have such strong engagement and shared commitment to the well-being and preservation of our Co-op.

Below is a brief summary of the key points that were discussed.

How Did We Get Here: A Moment in Time

When I stepped into the General Manager role in March 2022, I inherited a store facing underlying challenges, including low morale, leadership misalignment, and gaps in institutional knowledge, many of which stemmed from the pandemic era.

During 2020 to 2021, the Co-op experienced a surge in sales and growth, leading to decisions based on the expectation that those conditions would continue. As operations normalized, sales declined but expenses remained, creating financial strain.

In 2023, further challenges emerged that required extensive review and correction of our financial position. With support from cooperative industry partners, we have now clarified our financial reality and established accurate reporting.

Only recently have we gained a clear understanding of where we stand, and with that clarity, we can move forward with confidence.

What We Are Doing: A Strategy Built on Growth

Our path forward is centered on growth. We are focusing on strengthening key departments that drive both customer demand and financial performance, while making thoughtful, data-informed investments to rebuild trust and improve the overall shopping experience.

At the same time, we are taking disciplined steps to reduce expenses and improve operational efficiency. With support from our partners, we are also pursuing critical financial adjustments to stabilize the business.

Our immediate priority is stabilization, which will allow us to move forward with clarity and begin reinvesting in the future of the Co-op.

What Will Be Different

Moving forward, our focus is on stronger structure, clearer oversight, and greater accountability to ensure long-term stability.

Just as importantly, we are recommitting to what makes the Co-op unique. Transparency, connection to local producers, and a strong sense of community. We are listening closely to feedback and making thoughtful improvements to better serve our customers.

Our goal is not just to sustain the business, but to strengthen its role as a trusted, community centered place for quality food and connection.

Community Impact: A Trusted Resource

The Co-op is more than a place to shop; it is a valued community resource that supports local organizations, improves access to healthy food, and partners with groups across the region.

It also plays an important role in supporting local producers and contributing to the strength of the broader local economy. Its impact is widely recognized as an essential part of the community.

Building Stability

Stabilizing the Co-op requires strengthening our financial position. We have launched a fundraising effort to support key operational needs and are pursuing additional sources of working capital to aid in recovery.

We are preparing to launch a community capital campaign to strengthen our financial foundation, support operations, and build long-term stability. This effort is focused on creating a stronger future for the Co-op.

The Ask: This Is Your Store

What would Great Barrington look like without the
Co-op; a place that supports local farmers, nourishes the community, and brings people together?

This is about preserving a vital community resource built on values, access to good food, and cooperation. You have a Board, a dedicated leadership team, and staff committed to rebuilding the business, but ultimately this is your store.

We are asking for your support through active participation, contribution, and belief in what the Co-op represents. With your help, we can move forward and ensure it continues to serve the community for generations to come.

from our General Manager
Jessica Bosworth

Dear friends, neighbors, and community members,

For more than 45 years, Berkshire Food Co-op has been an integral part of this community. Over those years, we have felt tremendous love and support from you, and we are deeply grateful.

Today, we are asking for your help to ensure the next 45 years and beyond. At this moment, the future of the
Co-op is at risk.

If this place has ever been part of your day, whether sharing a meal with loved ones, catching up with friends, grabbing a quick coffee, or shopping in a store where everyone is welcomed and valued, we hope you will consider making a donation.

Your support matters. Contributions will help keep our doors open, give us time to strengthen operations, and allow us to continue nurturing the community that means so much to all of us.

We want the Co-op to be here for years to come. We want future generations to experience what this place has meant to so many.

If you share the vision of our Co-op, please consider making a donation and share this message with others who care about this community. A contribution of any size makes a meaningful difference.

Thank you for being part of this community. We are truly appreciative of you.

Yours in cooperation,
The Co-op Team

Dear Co-op Owners,

Thank you for the care you’ve shown recently — your notes, conversations, and steady presence in the store. You’ve also been asking a simple, powerful question: “What can I do to help?”

We want to be clear and transparent: Berkshire Food Co-op is under severe financial strain. Without immediate operational changes and a meaningful increase in community support, the Co-op is at real risk of closing.

What the Board is doing right now
We are moving quickly on a stabilization plan focused on near-term survival and a responsible path forward:

• Immediate stabilization support: 
  We are working closely with National Co+op Grocers (NCG) and Columinate to implement a rapid stabilization plan—centered on cash flow, expense controls, and near-term viability.

• Expense reductions already underway: 
  We have taken difficult but necessary steps to reduce costs immediately, including reducing employee hours, to better align expenses with what the
  Co-op can sustain right now.

We know these changes affect people. We’re deeply grateful to our staff for their professionalism and care in a very hard moment, and we are committed to making decisions thoughtfully and communicating responsibly.

What owners can do right now
The most immediate help is still the most powerful: shop here consistently and invite others to do the same. If you can shift more of your weekly grocery spending to the Co-op over the coming weeks, it makes a direct difference.

Two additional ways to help—especially helpful for cash flow:

• Open or add funds to a Prepaid Owner Tab (cash/check helps reduce card fees).

• Purchase Co-op gift cards for friends and family (and invite them into the store).

What to expect next
The next several weeks are critical. The Board will share another update soon as the stabilization plan progresses, including specific opportunities for owners to support the Co-op beyond shopping.

Thank you for standing with this community-owned store. Your participation and your purchases will directly influence what happens next.

With gratitude,
Berkshire Food Co-op Board of Directors

 

Your support makes the difference
help us move forward

Since we last connected with our community, so many of you have reached out with one simple, powerful question: “What can I do to help?”

Thank you all so much for reaching out. We truly feel the love and support from this community, and and it means more to us than we can say.

If you’re wondering how to help, the very best way right now is simply to keep shopping at our store. Every visit, every purchase, and every kind word makes a difference.

We feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a kind, generous, and connected community. Your encouragement, involvement, and belief in what we’re building together truly inspires us. We care deeply about this store and the people who make it so special. Together, through creativity, dedication, and hard work, we’ll continue finding ways to help our co-op thrive.

Please stay alert for important updates on how you can support our vital community co-op. New opportunities to step up and make a real difference are on the way!

Yours in cooperation,
Jessica Bosworth
General Manager

February 17, 2026

Important Update to Our Community

On Monday, February 16th 2026, Berkshire Food Co-op made several operational changes, including reducing employee hours and a careful evaluation of discounts and promotions, with the aim of reducing overall expenses, as the co-op’s current financial performance is not sustainable. 

Co-op leadership and the Board are working with an independent outside team to fully assess our financial position and determine the best path forward. As a co-op for and by the people, our top priority is supporting our employees and the people of this community that bring our mission to life. We remain deeply committed to our community (as we have been for more than 45 years) and we hope you will continue to support us by shopping at Berkshire Food Co-op.

In cooperation,
Jessica Bosworth
General Manager