Kristina Gronquist has been EFC’s Assistant Manager since the store opened. She is responsible for finances, human resources and marketing.  As if that weren't enough, Kristina recently added EFC's general merchandise department to her responsibilities, which she manages with a focus on fairly-traded and environmentally-responsible items.  Before joining the co-op, she was self employed as a small business consultant, and operated a successful coffee shop. Kristina lives in Northeast Minneapolis with her father, Nels and her daughter, Sofia.

Treshy has a degree in film and an affinity for computers and systems. She first joined the Eastside Food Co-op as part of the opening front-end crew as shift leader; prior to that, she worked at coffee shops, and for 10 years at the Marriott as banquet staff. Treshy began working as administrative assistant in 2005, and now is responsible for the operational systems at EFC, including cleaning services, security services, and repairs and maintenance. She lives in Northeast Minneapolis.

Jean started working one shift a week in our produce department in July of 2004; in April of 2005, she was hired as produce manager. Prior to her experience at EFC, Jean was the deli and bakery manager at Linden Hills Food Co-op for 16 years; she left LHC to take a general manager position with D’Amico Inc., a fresh foods restaurant and catering business in the Twin Cities. Jean left D’Amico within the year, as the corporate environment was not a good fit for her, and pursued a life-long love of produce at Valley Natural Food Co-op in Burnsville for two years. Jean’s desire to work at an urban co-op, and at a small store where she could take an active role in the store’s success, led her to EFC. 

Robert graduated from St. Bernard’s High School, and attended the College of Associated Arts at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His professional experience ranges from a bicycle courier with On Time Delivery to repairing and building cycles at Croll Cycles to work as a custom builder with Gardner Hardware. Robert’s previous jobs have taught him to prioritize work based around the needs of customers and co-workers. Robert’s strengths are “to inspire people to care about what they’re doing, to serve the customer like a friend, and help my co-workers to do the job the best they possibly can.” 

Robert's focus in the Fresh Foods (meat and cheese) department is on locally-produced, artisanal cheeses and grass-fed, free-range meats. He regularly meets with his producers and visits their farms and facilities. Robert lives in Northeast Minneapolis.

Peter was an executive chef, catering director, and general manager at Bon Appetit in Minneapolis for eight years, and buyer, operations manager and deli manager at Northcountry Cooperative Grocery for six years, prior to arriving at Eastside in January 2008. Peter’s food service background includes training in margin management, sales growth and marketing, personnel, and data management. He has a current Food Manager certification. Peter’s deep experience in both restaurants and delis, in both restaurant retail and grocery retail, give him great perception in consumer trends and tastes, which is consistently balanced by what makes fiscal sense for the business operation. Peter sought employment at Eastside because he felt that the lessons in his previous venues could be successfully implemented here, where he believed there was management in place that would support his efforts and offer him an opportunity to expand and grow the deli.  Peter lives with his family in Southeast Minneapolis.

Brandy began working in co-ops in 2004 at Deep Roots Market in Greensboro, North Carolina, starting as a cashier and moving into the grocery department. Brandy soon went from being a grocery stocker to the Assistant Grocery Manager, due to her deep commitment to and interest in the co-op and its members. Upon moving to Minneapolis in 2007, Brandy promptly began work at the Seward Co-op as an evening shift-lead and a bulk buyer before coming to Eastside Food Co-op as the grocery manager. Brandy views that as her best professional decision to date! She brings practical experience to the team at Eastside, as an effective, approachable manager who leads by example, and with passion for what EFC provides our community. Brandy believes that consuming foods that are not only good for us, but good for our environment, is the key to overcoming some of the problems plaguing our society.  She hopes to purchase a home in her newly adopted community of Northeast Minneapolis.