Congratulations to Stephanie Wright, store manager at Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene, N.H., on being named a Grand Prize Winner in the 2022 FMI Store Manager Awards. Stephanie was recognized for her commitment to open book management, creating a positive customer experience, staff training and development, focus on the community, and her support of the Monadnock team. 

The FMI Store Manager Awards are given to outstanding managers who generate sales growth, effectively communicate company and store goals and objectives, demonstrate team leadership in their store/company, provide exceptional customer service through in-store programs and improve community relations.

Since she started at Monadnock four years ago, sales at the co-op have risen from $10.7 million to $18.5 million. High yearly growth rates have come under her leadership: a 10% spike in 2020, a 14% surge in 2021 and a projected 15% increase for this fiscal year. The important indicator of income was also decisively in the black, up between 3.2% and 6.2% over the past four years.

Stephanie has taken a proactive role in improving the customer experience at Monadnock. She enrolled the co-op in NCG’s Customer Experience (CX) Program, and shares shopper feedback during team meetings. During shortages throughout the pandemic, she worked with departments to identify alternative distributors to minimize supply disruption. Additionally, Stephanie’s ongoing mentoring of Monadnock staff has resulted in more than 50 promotions during her time at the co-op.

Stephanie also oversees Monadnock Food Co-op’s “Health Food for All” program, which provides a 10% discount for those in financial need. The program raised more than $50,000 in discounts last year. Stephanie’s work with the co-op’s monthly Round It Up drives has led to more than $65,000 in the past year for initiatives that improve the health of the community and create a sustainable local food system.

Read more about Stephanie and her award here.