South Philly Food Co-op
South Philly Food Co-op is a community-owned grocery store that is committed to social and economic justice while providing fresh, local, and sustainable groceries to residents of all income levels in South Philly. The UnTours Foundation provided working capital to open their retail location.
The South Philly Food Co-op’s Origin Story:
South Philly Food Co-op’s mission is to use food as a force for good – at their tables, in their community, and for the planet. The Co-op is cooperatively owned and democratically controlled by a community of South Philly neighbors. It all started in April 2010, when the first organized meeting took place, and the vision was set. The next ten years were full of strategic moves to ensure each step in their growth was what was best for the community. The property was purchased in October 2016, followed by 4 years of fundraising and December 2020.. Even when Covid-19 related government orders paused construction, a new capital campaign was launched to sustain their efforts and ensure their opening when construction could resume. By the time the store opened in December 2020, they had 1,400 member-owners!
South Philly Food Co-op is South Philly’s only community-owned grocery store, and by leveraging their combined purchasing power of the local community, the Co-op is taking ownership of the local economy by keeping everyone’s hard-earned dollars right at home.
How South Philly Food Co-op is Changing the World:
South Philly Food Co-op prioritizes the health of its customers and the well-being of the planet. Their range of fair-trade and sustainably-produced products is carefully selected to ensure they are free of harmful additives and chemicals. With a strong commitment to supporting the local community, the Co-op gives special emphasis to sourcing local and regional foods. Moreover, they actively contribute to the community by collecting donations at their registers and organizing food drives for local pantries and community fridges. When it comes to good food, fostering a strong community, and making a positive impact on the planet, South Philly Food Co-op is a trusted choice.
Being community-owned and controlled by a democratically elected board of directors also lends to working with community partners and providing food education on social media and in-store. For example, the co-op hosted a community mural project in which everyone was invited to participate.
Their use of sustainable sources of food and other eco-friendly household products and by minimizing waste through composting, recycling, and minimizing packaging and bags shows their priotiy of sustainability. The Co-op even partners with the Energy Co-op to reduce energy use and support green energy!
How you can Connect with South Philly Food Co-op:
If you live in—or ever visit!—South Philly, you can shop at their 2031 S. Juniper Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148 store. Otherwise, you can show your support by telling others in your network or evening gifting the gift of membership to someone who cannot afford it. This can be done through their website. Social media is also a great way to learn more about South Philly Food Co-op and share their posts. They can be found on several platforms – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, or YouTube.
