Richmond Food Co-op hopes to open this fall

Organizers of the Richmond Food Cooperative have launched a membership campaign, with a kick-off event hosted at Hardywood.

January 31, 2013; 7:19 AM • by Nathan Cushing

The Richmond Food Cooperative, a new member-owned grocery store, has launched a membership campaign (PDF) that it hopes will allow the cooperative to open later this fall in Scott’s Addition.

“The Co-op will be a critical contribution to Richmond’s food landscape,” said Michele Lord, founding member and Board Chair. “Our community will have improved access to local, healthy food, while enjoying the convenience of a one-stop-shop grocery store. The Co-op is owned exclusively by its members, and each member will have an equal vote in the governance of the business.” Members will also receive discounts on purchases.

The membership campaign kick-off event will be held at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery on Thursday, January 31st from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. People can learn about the co-op, meet members of the steering committee, and sign-up for membership.

Memberships are $125 for each adult member of a household, along with a $25 joining fee per household. Discounts are available for those who depend on government assistance. Organizers hope to gain 800 members ahead of the co-op’s launch.

Susan Hill, co-founder of Richmond Food Cooperative and board secretary, said, “Our focus will be on members and affordable access to food, instead of on profit.”

“This is a community-owned venture, open to all who want to join and shop,” she added “Becoming a member of the co-op is a wonderful opportunity to invest in a local business, and in turn, support our local food supply.”

Here’s the Richmond Food Cooperative’s FAQs section, along with a video highlighting the benefits of a co-op over traditional grocery stores: