An Open Letter from the Johnson Family
30 years ago Foodworks Natural Market started with a love affair…
Owners, Bonnie and Ralph Johnson, met over the phone in 1985 when Bonnie was working in customer service for what was then Cornucopia Natural Foods in Rhode Island (presently UNFI), and Ralph was the buyer for Integral Yoga Natural Foods in New York City. Bonnie took Ralph's order over the phone twice a week for a year and then they finally agreed to meet in New York City. They met for tea at DO JO's on St Marks Place and fell in love.
Bonnie and Ralph were both committed to natural foods and an alternative lifestyle
Bonnie became a vegetarian in 1977 and Ralph in 1976. Bonnie had worked at a natural foods restaurant in Rhode Island called the Merciful Lion while in college, and after graduating managed the Alternative Food Coop. She started working at Cornucopia in 1984. Ralph had started a natural foods delivery service in 1975 and a magazine called Black Health in 1979 and then went on to Integral Yoga as the grocery buyer in 1982. After Ralph and Bonnie married in 1987 Ralph went on to simultaneously manage Down to Earth in NYC and Katonah Natural Market in Katonah, NY.
Being so good at what he did it was clear that it was their destiny to purchase FoodWorks from Henry Fleishman in 1992
With two small children the Johnsons moved from White Plains, NY to Madison, CT to make the shoreline and FoodWorks their home and community. The entire family was a regular presence at the original FoodWorks located at 1055 Boston Post Road, Guilford. The two oldest Johnson children could be found playing in the kid's section, helping to stock and price items, or hiding from their parents in the basement. Bonnie helped ring the register and place orders and Ralph built a thriving business with his brilliant entrepreneurial spirit and extensive knowledge of natural foods.
In FoodWorks, the Johnson family cultivated their passion to serve the shoreline community with the very best of the natural food’s world
Eventually, the Johnson’s expanded the Guilford location and opened FoodWorks II in Old Saybrook which is now housed in its own building! Once upon a time there were FoodWorks’ in Rhode Island, Florida, Cheshire & Monroe CT, yet it is the Guilford and Old Saybrook locations that have withstood the test of time. We thank everyone who has been involved over these 30 years!
For his entire adult life Ralph Johnson was committed to health and healing; his life was dedicated to the service of others
He believed in the well-being of humanity: teaching yoga, Tai Chi, studying homeopathy and nutrition; he was a true believer in the power, potential and possibility of healthy living in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual realms.
FoodWorks, through the vision of Ralph and his family, has served the shoreline for these past 30 years. Ralph's mission was to help and serve the world, and through FoodWorks and every other modality he committed himself to, he has succeeded.
