GM Update Summer 2025
June 4, 2025
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
-F. Scott Fitzgerald
I love the early days of summer! The sun is up early and going to bed later every day, the birds are singing in the trees, the water in the bay is still ice cold, and there’s an electric buzz in the air heralding the arrival of the busy season in our coastal town. Whether you’re a seasonal resident of the midcoast who’s been away for the winter or part of our hearty year-round community, thank you for your continued support and patronage. Your continued support for our community-owned enterprise means everything.
In case you haven’t noticed, things at the store are booming. We’ve had eleven consecutive months of sales over one million dollars. This past week we had our highest sales week in our 49-year history—a huge milestone made even more impressive when you consider that we hit it in the middle of May at the beginning of our busiest season. Cash flow remains tighter than we’d like, but due to the efforts of our diligent BCC workers and managers, we’ve turned the tide and are on track to build the necessary reserves we need to get through next winter. Our year-to-date sales are up 47% from last year, with May’s sales up 94% from last year! This incredible growth reflects not just our community’s trust in us, but our shared commitment to nourishing one another.
With all that said, we could use your help. We’re actively hiring for our Prepared Foods department and other positions throughout the store. We’ve worked diligently to bring you new and exciting offerings but are running up against our ability to stay on top of production with the labor we have. There’s so much that we want to deliver, but we just don’t have enough workers to make it happen. If you know someone looking for meaningful work in a values-driven environment, please send them our way! We know our team works hard, and we’re grateful for your patience as we build our staff to better serve you.
The current economic climate has us all on the edge of our seats. However, historically, when times get tough, people lean into their community-owned and operated businesses, and co-ops continue to serve. We’re watching what’s happening nationally and internationally closely and trying as best we can to predict how that will affect our cooperative enterprise. It’s a stark reminder that we don’t operate in a bubble and the ripples of unrest eventually come to our shores. Our responsibility in these trying times is to stay focused on what we can control, take care of our workers and our community, continue to deliver service and value, and be a source of stability in an unpredictable world.
This summer we’ll be out in the community sharing everything we love about co-ops! June is Pride Month and we’re so excited to be the main sponsor of Belfast Area High School’s Pride Parade on June 7th! We were also a sponsor of Out in the Open’s 2025 Spring Summit in collaboration with MOFGA. The Climate Resilience Fair at Steamboat Landing seeks to provide resources to make your home and landscape more environmentally friendly and prepare for extreme weather. This event was originally scheduled for June 7th as well, but has been postponed due to weather. We’re proud to support Belfast Free Library and Waldo County Climate Action Coalition as we work together toward a sustainable future.
I love the sounds of live music in the air when walking around town at night and this summer will be no exception. The BCC will continue to sponsor the beloved Belfast Summer Nights music series and the Belfast Flying Shoes’ monthly contra dances. We’re hoping to bring something special to Thursday nights at the Co-op throughout the summer to help you enjoy the music series, so stay tuned for more on that in the next couple of weeks.
Buckle up! This summer at your Belfast Community Co-op is going to be a wild one. Be patient with each other in the aisles and in the parking lot. Also, be patient with the folks traveling here from far away—they’re just trying to get a taste of what we get to experience every day! From fresh local produce to all the fixings for outdoor gatherings, from tourists discovering BCC for the first time to longtime owners stocking up for summer adventures—we’re here for it all. Thank you for making our co-op not just a store, but a true community hub. Here’s to a summer full of good food, great neighbors, and the special spirit that makes Belfast the home we love.
See you in the aisles,
-Doug
Everyone is welcome to shop at the Co-op; it is our mission and our pleasure to bring locally-sourced, reasonably priced, organic and natural products to all.
Owned by you. Food for all.
