Feb. 13, 2024

The Sioux Falls Food Co+op is looking for a new leader after its longtime general manager took an opportunity to lead a larger co-op.

Patrick Sayler became the general manager of a multi-store co-op operation in Bellingham, Washington, earlier this year. He joined the Sioux Falls co-op grocery store in 2016 after longtime general manager Molly Langley retired.

“Patrick’s entrepreneurial drive and fiscal management abilities along with his ability to lead a group of employees through a huge transition with the reopening of our expanded store footprint is the lynchpin to our current success,” board chair Katrina Lehr-McKinney said.

“We were told that Patrick has a ‘rock star’ reputation among his peers in the co-op community nationwide, and we all knew it to be true because we were witness to the good work he was doing every day here in Sioux Falls and as a board member with National Co-op Grocers.”

The co-op now turns its focus to find the next leader for the store at 410 W. 18th St., which expanded a few years ago and recently finished a new strategic plan. Customers don’t have to be members to shop at the store.

“We hope to continue building upon the strong employee culture and focus on additional owner engagement initiatives like our $5 Wednesday Dinners, while ensuring the co-op’s long-term financial security and success,” Lehr-McKinney said. “Our hope is that we find a great pool of candidates in the next month and are able to hire our new GM by May or so. We’re currently undertaking a national search for the GM position and hope to find a new GM that will embrace the already strong culture the staff and board have built within the store.”

There is no deadline to apply. The job is posted here.