Announcing a critical staff hire on our pathway to store opening later this year.

After a national search, countless hours worked and interviews conducted by our GM Search Committee, the Kensington Community Food Co-op is excited to announce the hiring of our first General Manager, Mike Richards!

The KCFC Board of Directors chose Mike from a pool of over 40 qualified applicants. He joins us from Creekside Food Co-op in Elkins Park, PA, where he has worked since their opening in 2012. In his last position as their Operations Manager, Mike worked with all departments of Creekside on sales and budgeting, was involved with all hiring and interacted with local and national vendors. He has also participated in Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance’s Cooperative Leadership Institute with other co-op leaders from the area.  Mike is extremely excited to be bringing his skills and experience to KCFC.

“I have tracked KCFC’s development while at Creekside and am excited to now be a part of KCFC in a leadership role. I see the co-op as a great addition to the area and a place for everyone in the community to meet and have access to fairly priced, high-quality food and other products. I can’t wait to begin this journey,” said Richards.

Hiring a General Manager is one of the final steps in the process of opening our community-owned grocery store. Mike’s primary responsibility will be the overall planning, operations, and management of our store. He will also oversee the final design and construction of the store, as well as hiring/training staff. Once KCFC is open and operational, he will oversee all operations under the leadership and guidance of the Board of Directors elected by our members.

“When we started our GM search nearly two years ago, we were cautiously optimistic that we could find someone with the combination of grocery experience and leadership that Mike Richards brings to the table. With his calm demeanor and focus on customer service, we are very confident in Mike’s ability to make KCFC a welcoming and vibrant community-owned grocery store,” said Holly Logan, President, KCFC.

A few other fun facts about Mike:

• Mike lives in Abington with his wife, Sara, and their two kids: Jonas and Olivia.

• Mike’s a big animal fan… he lives with two cats, a dog, and a turtle!

• When he’s not at the store, you may find Mike hiking, camping, or skiing

• Mike’s a big Philly sports fan and is really excited by the Sixers right now

Member-owners will have a chance to meet Mike at one of several events currently be planned over the next few months. Stay tuned to your email for details and connect with us on Facebook for the latest updates.