Dearest Co-op Community,

Hi there, hello. It feels like a year has passed since I last reached out with a greeting and some news to share. It feels like coming up for air after working on a long-term underwater emergency building project. I do have lots of great news to share with you all. First, we made it through another year operating the best grocery store in Greensboro during a global pandemic and we are still here, stronger than ever before. 

2021 was our biggest sales year in Deep Roots' history (almost $5.5 million!). We are attracting some great talent to the Co-op. You can literally taste the difference on the hot bar. We are expanding the salad bar options too. We are working on a smoothie menu and are going to launch the program very soon. We are offering more Owner deals and bonuses than ever before. Our entire grocery department has been or is about to be reset with more and better options. We have reached out and made commitments with more local farmers of color. Our buyers don’t give up. If we can’t get something from a distributor, we go direct. We have been told by several new customers that we have the best customer service in town. This is the Co-op difference.

Although the challenges of a contagious virus keep us on our toes and disrupted deliveries keep us exhausted and push us past a normal day’s work, we keep showing up and improving your Co-op. You too have shown up and participated economically and that makes all the difference! This is why we do what we do, for community, for everyone, for the good of all. This pandemic and all of its related challenges have allowed us to shine and show why we exist. Your kindness keeps us going.

Humans coming together for a common good builds our individual and collective strength. Cheers to a New Year filled with community love, fresh local foods, healthy minds and bodies, and taking a seat at the great big table of how we move forward together for everyone.

See you in the aisles,

Nicole Villano, GM

*PS. In an effort to continue serving you, we go the extra mile every day taking extreme precautions to keep the store clean and each other safe. We are asking that everyone wear a mask while shopping, despite vaccination status or what your thoughts are on the matter. People are working here with health issues and anxiety. Just put a mask on, please. Ask if you forgot yours. We’ve got your back.