In April, the City of Middleton Sustainability Committee presented Willy West Store Director Frantseska Kois with a Sustainable Middleton Award. The award reads: “This award is proudly presented to Willy Street Co-op West for being a popular ‘healthy sustainable food’ grocery store in Middleton. The store supports the local food system by buying from local farmers, producers and service providers. The store added a “Rooted in our Community” section to its Community Reinvestment Fund that provides grants supporting local food systems. In 2025, new grants totaling $20,000 were given to three local food producers. The co-op offers 450 local brands, producing one-third of the store’s annual sales. In addition to these achievements, Willy Street Co-op West installed rooftop solar panels that produce 165 MWh of electricity annually[,] offsetting 22% of the grocery store’s energy needs.”
“Thank you for the nomination and this award—it truly means a lot,” said Frantseska. “We are grateful to work with a team that cares about doing better for our communities and the environment. This recognition belongs to all of us.”
Shown in the photo, left to right: Deb Weitzel, Sustainability Committee Member; Kristie Pulvermacher, Sustainability Committee Member; Cari Johnson, Willy West Assistant Store Director; Frantseska Kois, Willy West Store Director; Richard Lathrop, Sustainability Committee Member. The photo was taken in Middleton’s City Hall in April.
