Elm City Market Demutualizes

In an unfortunate action that is the first of its kind, at least for the current generation of food co-ops, Elm City Market in New Haven, Connecticut, has demutualized and is no longer a co-op.  The challenges of launching and sustaining food co-ops in urban food deserts with low- to moderate-income demographics remain difficult ones.  The National Cooperative Grocers, who had provided substantial support to a turnaround effort at Elm City Market and proposed to retain community ownership, announced that the co-op had been sold to local investors and lenders: https://www.ncga.coop/newsroom/elm-city-market-no-longer-consumer-cooperative.