Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 A U G U S T 1 0 , 2 0 2 6 Becky Shepherd is the owner of Wild Oats, a grocery store and lunch spot at Brunswick Landing. Through her leadership, Shepherd has built an organization rooted in connection, compassion and a commitment to the people. The store is a go-to spot for businesspeople and residents on and near Brunswick Landing. Behind the scenes, the owner has gone to great lengths to ensure that employees are happy and safe from at-risk situations in their personal lives . nspired by her educator parents and her father's emphasis on what he called the three H's — human- ity, humility and humor — Shepherd focuses on relationship and commu- nity in the way she mentors others and leads her organization. Mainebiz: How has the customer base evolved or changed since the pandemic? Becky Shepherd: e pandemic hit in the middle of our construction, so it is hard to say how much of what we have seen came from the move and how much came from the pandemic. We [moved from downtown Brunswick] to the new space in December 2020, which was not an easy moment to open anything, but people were ready for somewhere to go. We still get the same wonderful cross-section of Brunswick and the sur- rounding communities, but the nature of the visits has changed. Downtown, we were on everyone's way to work, so people stopped in for a quick coffee or a bite. Out here, nobody passes by accident, so visits are more intentional. MB: How do you manage the higher cost of everything, from labor to vendors to food supplies? BS: e prices of eggs, coffee, flour, sugar and chocolate have continued to increase or fluctuate due to environ- mental or economic factors. Imported products and shipping costs are spiking. You lean in on your vendor relationships, strategize your buying, work on your efficiencies, tweak a recipe, absorb some of the costs and occasionally raise prices. Labor is our biggest expense and the one I don't touch. When our costs go up, so does my staff 's cost of living and their chances of building their future. I believe people deserve a living wage, and I would rather run a tighter busi- ness than have a cheaper payroll. MB: How do you keep staffing levels where you need them? BS: Keeping a dedicated and engaged staff is always a top priority, and honestly that is most of the answer. e less turn- over we have, the less hiring we have to do. We invest consistently in improving our hiring and training protocols, and we offer a strong benefits package. Staying fully staffed is still incred- ibly challenging and it has been for years, which is why we also pay atten- tion to the things that never show up in a benefits summary. MB: You've hired a number of women and young adults who come from at-risk circumstances. How does the recruiting and/or hiring process work in situations like that? BS: Almost 75% of our staff are women, and Wild Oats has been a women- led business since the day we opened. Supporting women and underserved communities is "baked" into our DNA. Nobody here gets judged for who they are or where they came from, which is just as true for our LGBTQIA+ staff as it is for a nervous sixteen-year-old on a first shift. Beyond that, most of it comes through relationships rather than job postings, working with local high schools, hosting job shadows, taking on interns, giving tours and field trips and speaking to classes. Alexis Wells, Mainebiz Digital Editor, can be reached at awells @ mainebiz.biz I dentons.com © 2026 Dentons. Dentons is a global legal practice providing client services worldwide through its member firms and affiliates. Please see dentons.com for Legal Notices. Congratulations on your 2026 Chambers USA rankings Hannah King Partner Cannabis, Nationwide Andrew Helman Office Managing Partner Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Maine Kevan Lee Deckelmann Partner Corporate/M&A, Maine Brian Rayback Partner Environment, Maine When our costs go up, so does my staff's cost of living and their chances of building their future. I believe people deserve a living wage, and I would rather run a tighter business than have a cheaper payroll.

• Cover