Chester's Community Grocery Co-op

Chester’s Community Grocery Co-op is different from a traditional supermarket in a number of ways. A supermarket is owned by a large corporation, independent operators, a network of suppliers that makes money from the food you buy and uses that money any way and place it chooses. A Co-op, however, is owned by the people who shop there.  Each of these people is an owner-member. Any profit that is made goes back into the Co-op to reduce the cost of the food and the owner-members decide what will be done with any surplus.

Members are not the only ones who benefit from the Co-op. Any money made at the Co-op ends up staying right here in Chester instead of going to some corporate headquarters. The Co-op wants to hire people to staff the store from within the community. And we are committed to paying employees a reasonable living wage.

Owner-Members can start signing up now. Members pay a one-time non-refundable membership fee of $50 and make a refundable investment of $200. You can sign up on-line, come to the Co-op at 501 Edgmont Ave during store hours or mail in a payment.
The Co-op can offer such great food at affordable prices because the owner-members provide the labor. Each adult member of the household is required to work 2 hours and 45 minutes every four weeks (roughly 35 hours a year). We have each owner-member sign up for a workslot. Week A-D and they choose a group to work with every four weeks.

Members are not the only ones who benefit from the Co-op. Any money made at the Co-op ends up staying right here in Chester instead of going to some corporate headquarters. Plus, the Co-op will need to hire people to staff the store. We are committed to paying employees a reasonable living wage.

For more information, please print out and read our membership brochure, available by clicking here.

Right now, the Board of Directors meets monthly to lay the foundation for the Co-op. Their names are at the bottom of this page. If you're interested in keeping up on how the Co-op is coming along, you can read the minutes of our meetings on the Board of Directors' page or become a member today! If you would like to support us as an individual, corporation, or organization, please consider joining the Chester's Community Grocery Partnership Program or becoming an Equity Member.

Our Steering Committee

. LarRaine Branch

. George Brown

. Jack Cavanaugh, Treasurer

. Tina Johnson, President

. Tara Jones-Stephens

. Alton Loper, Vice President

. Christine Lussier, Secretary

. Rod Powell

. Ken Wright, Parliamentarian

Our Advisory Committee

. Robin Cannicle, Weavers Way Co-op Membership Coordinator

. Ed Chantigian, White Rose Food Division of DiGiorgio Corp.

. Kate Smith, Keystone Development Center

. Joe Holtz, Park Slope Co-op

. Mbe Agbor, Unilever, N.V.

. David Cunicelli, 320 Market Café