The “Neighboring Co-operator Award” was established in 2015 by the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) to acknowledge special contributions made to their work and the advancement of their vision of a co-operative economy, rooted in a healthy, just, and sustainable food system and a vibrant community of co-operative enterprise. As part of the award, the NFCA makes a contribution to CDF’s Education Fund in honor of the recipient and invites other co-ops, organizations and individuals to do so as well.

 

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Cooperative Education Fund in honor of our Neighboring Co-operators, please use the "Donate" button below!

 

At their 14th Annual Meeting in 2025, the NFCA honored Kari Bradley, former General Manager of Hunger Mountain Co-op and a founding Director of the NFCA, whose years of unwavering commitment to our values, principles, and collaboration continues to contribute to the community.

 

Born in the DC area, Kari Bradley grew up in Calais, VT.  After school, he gained extensive experience in the natural foods industry, eventually finding himself working as a department manager in an independent grocery store in Montana when he learned of an opportunity at a food co-op back in Montpelier.  

 

In 2004, Kari was hired as General Manager at Hunger Mountain Co-op at a critical time in its development.  It was a position he would hold for 19 years as the co-op went through dramatic change and growth.  At the close of his career with the co-op, Bradley was managing a $29 million operating budget and leading a team of 20 managers and more than 180 employees.  Along the way, Kari paid special attention to building a culture of education, collaboration, and participation, mentoring managers within his own workplace and working closely with other General Managers in the region.

 

Building on this experience and recognizing the importance of peer support and collaboration in his own success, Kari played a key role in the community of co-operators that would come together in 2007 to sign the “Middlebury Manifesto,” considered the founding document of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA).  In 2011, he was one of the founding incorporators of the NFCA and provided visionary leadership during his seven years on the Board of Directors.  In his role as President, Kari provided invaluable support and counsel to Staff in the early days of our regional co-operative of food co-ops.  And true to his commitment to the organization, when he stepped down, he nominated one of his emerging managers to run for the Board.

 

In 2023, Kari moved on from Hunger Mountain Co-op to try something new.  As the first-ever Town Administrator for the town where he grew up and raised his own family, Bradley has been able to apply his skills to local government.  At the same time, he has remained committed to our food co-ops, and particularly the success of our General Managers.  As the NFCA has worked to find ways to support and connect our community and to take advantage of the wisdom and experience of past leaders, we reached out Kari to see whether he would like to help build a support system for co-op leaders.  Thankfully, he jumped at the opportunity, leading a peer discussion among newer GMs at our last annual meeting to explore what topics would be most helpful for them, and leading online dialogs throughout the year. 

 

During his time on the Board of Directors of the NFCA, Kari emphasized the importance of celebrating our community.  For example, he proposed that we establish an annual award that would be presented to a “Staff Member, Director or Member of an NFCA Member Co-op or Partner Organization or representative of such organization for special contributions to the NFCA and the advancement of our Vision.”  True to his humble nature, Kari probably never expected that he would be a recipient of this honor a decade later.

 

Kari Bradley joins a growing group of people acknowledged Past recipients of the award have included Terry Appleby, General Manager of Hanover Co-op Food Stores (NH & VT); Cornelius Blanding, Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives / Land Assistance Fund; Alex Gyori, former General Manager of Brattleboro Food Co-op (VT); JQ Hannah, Assistant Director at Food Co-op Initiative (FCI); Kay Litten, NFCA Board Member and longtime Director of Hanover Co-op Food Stores (NH & VT); Patrice Lockert Anthony, President of GreenStar Co-op Markets (NY); Glenn Lower, former General Manager of Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op (VT); Roger Noonan, President of the New England Farmers Union; Alice Rubin, General Manager of Willimantic Food Co-op (CT); and Joanne Todd, Director at Willimantic Food Co-op (CT) and CEO, Northeast Family Credit Union.

 

In honor of Kari and in recognition of all of our Neighboring Co-operators, the NFCA invites you to join us in making a donation to CDF’s Cooperative Education Fund.