Public grocery store

{{Short description|Government-run store selling food and household supplies}}

Public grocery stores are grocery stores that are operated by a government for the benefit of the general public. Because these grocery stores are publicly owned and run for community benefit rather than solely for profit, the grocery stores have greater flexibility to lower prices for customers. While the term "public grocery store" is most commonly used to mean government-run grocery stores, cooperatives, non-profits, and public-private partnerships are also sometimes referred to as public grocery stores.{{cite web|url=https://cdn.vanderbilt.edu/vu-sub/wp-content/uploads/sites/281/2024/03/18104854/Public-Grocery-Stores.pdf |title=Public Grocery Stores: A Guide for Policymakers |publisher=Vanderbilt University |accessdate=2025-06-29}} Government-owned grocery stores may be nationalized, tribally owned, municipality-owned, or owned by other sub-national jurisdictions. State-owned grocery stores have been common in current and historic communist and socialist states, but are also found in states with predominantly capitalist or mixed-market economies. Commissaries are grocery stores run by militaries or prisons to provide goods to enlistees and prisoners.{{cite web|url=https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/commissaries-and-exchanges/ |title=Commissaries and Exchanges |publisher=Military OneSource |accessdate=2025-07-09 |quote=Commissaries are basically your neighborhood grocery store, located on military installations worldwide. The commissary sells food and household items at prices that are often below other grocery stores.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/idoc/divisions/support-hub/commissary/ |title=Commissary |publisher=Indiana Department of Correction |accessdate=2025-07-09 |quote=Commissary is a store within a correctional facility where incarcerated individuals can purchase various goods and supplies. These items often include snacks, hygiene products, and clothing.}}

Bolivia

The EMAPA supermarket chain in Bolivia is state-owned.{{cite web|url=https://www.riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/bolivia-emerges-from-severe-crisis-and-returns-to-growth-of-9-4/ |title=Bolivia emerges from severe crisis and returns to growth of 9.4% |publisher=The Rio Times |accessdate=2025-07-02}}

Bulgaria

Due to the government monopoly on retail, grocery stores were government-owned in the communist People's Republic of Bulgaria.

In 2025, the Bulgarian government announced that it would be opening a chain of state-owned supermarkets.{{cite web|url=https://trademagazin.hu/en/allami-szupermarketlanc-indul-bulgariaban-csak-helyi-termekekkel-alacsony-arressel/ |title=State-owned supermarket chain launches in Bulgaria – with only local products, low margins |publisher=Trade Magazin |accessdate=2025-06-29}}

Cuba

Most grocery stores in Cuba have been state-owned for decades, due to the government monopoly on retail. Some privately owned grocery stores are allowed to exist, but typically remain unaffordable for the majority of Cubans.{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/cuban-private-grocery-stores-thrive-but-few-can-afford-them/7355940.html |title=Cuban Private Grocery Stores Thrive, But Few Can Afford Them |publisher=Voice of America |accessdate=2025-07-05}}

Czech Republic

Due to the state monopoly on retail, all grocery stores were government-owned in socialist Czechoslovakia and consolidated together under a single grocery store network called Zdroj. Zdroj owned grocery stores, greengrocers, and butcher shops across the Czech Socialist Republic. The basis of Zdroj was a grocery store chain privately owned by Julius Meinl, Jedlo Bratislava, and Lahôdky Lamplota that was nationalized in 1948. Following the collapse of socialism, Zdroj was broken up into several regional chains and privatized.{{cite web|url=https://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/tci/docs/RS7-Central%20&%20EE_Impact%20of%20Food%20Retail%20Investments%20on%20the%20Food%20Chain.pdf |title=Central and Eastern Europe: Impact of Food Retail Investments on the Food Chain |publisher=Integrated Food Security Phase Classification |accessdate=2025-07-09}}{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/culture-and-lifestyle/c/the-communist-grocery-store-zdroj |title=History Talks: The communist grocery store Zdroj |publisher=The Slovak Spectator |accessdate=2025-07-09}}

Aside from Zdroj, Czechoslovakia also had a network of consumer cooperatives called Jednota that sold food products.

Hungary

File:Csemege enterprise Fortepan 84652.jpg supermarket in Hungary, 1976.]]

Due to the state monopoly on retail in the socialist Hungarian People's Republic, grocery stores were owned by the Hungarian government.

The state-owned Csemege grocery chain was established in 1952. In 1992, following the collapse of the socialist government, Csemege was privatized and sold to the Austrian retail company Julius Meinl. Csemege-Julius Meinl was later purchased by the Belgian Louis Delhaize Group and incorporated into the supermarket chain Match.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jbrmr.com/cdn/article_file/i-22_c-210.pdf|title=Global Vs. Local-The Hungarian Retail Wars|publisher=jbrmr.com|access-date=10 July 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/578221468760761257/pdf/multi0page.pdf |title=Selling State Companies to Strategic Investors |publisher=World Bank Group |accessdate=2025-07-10}}

Iran

The discount supermarket and department store chain Shahrvand Chain Stores Inc. is owned by the city government of Tehran.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/24/world/24sanctions.html |title=U.S. Approved Business With Blacklisted Nations |publisher=The New York Times |accessdate=2025-07-07}}

New Zealand

State-owned supermarkets have been debated as a possible answer to the "supermarket duopoly" in New Zealand, but no proposal has been enacted.{{cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/556650/christopher-luxon-won-t-say-if-coalition-partners-would-back-breaking-up-supermarkets |title=Christopher Luxon won't say if coalition partners would back breaking up supermarkets |publisher=Radio New Zealand |accessdate=2025-06-29}}

Poland

File:Gorzów Wielkopolski, SDH Kokos (1985).jpg grocery store in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland, 1985.]]

Due to the nationalization of retail in the socialist Polish People's Republic, many Polish grocery stores were state-owned. Społem, a consumers' co-operative of local grocery stores, was also under state ownership.{{cite web|url=https://journals.pan.pl/Content/112487/PDF/004-010%20bilewicz_ang.pdf |title=A Dream Forgotten |publisher=Polish Academy of Sciences |accessdate=2025-07-06}}

Romania

State-owned grocery stores were once common in the Socialist Republic of Romania. The state monopoly on retail ended after the collapse of Communism in 1989.{{cite web|url=https://business-review.eu/business/romanian-government-reintroduces-state-owned-grocery-stores-3-decades-after-the-collapse-of-former-communist-age-trade-monopoly1-203530 |title=Romanian government reintroduces state-owned grocery stores 3 decades after the collapse of former communist-age trade monopoly |publisher=Business Review |accessdate=2025-06-29}}

Russia

File:Eliseevsky1975.jpg grocery store in Moscow, December 1975.]]

Grocery stores and department stores were state-owned during the Soviet era. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, many grocery stores and other retail outlets were privatized.

The Eliseyevsky grocery store was state-owned during the Soviet era. The store was privatized in the early 1990s.{{cite web|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2021/0409/When-is-a-grocery-store-not-a-grocery-store-When-it-s-a-palace |title=When is a grocery store not a grocery store? When it’s a palace. |publisher=The Christian Science Monitor |accessdate=2025-06-30}}

Serbia

File:Izgled samoposluge.jpg store in Belgrade, 1968.]]

Due to the government monopoly on retail, grocery stores were government-owned in communist Yugoslavia.

The C-market supermarket chain was state-owned in Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/04/20/yugoslav-economy-hurting-but-so-far-no-one-is-starving/ |title=YUGOSLAV ECONOMY HURTING, BUT SO FAR NO ONE IS STARVING |publisher=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2025-07-04}} The first Serbian supermarket was a C-market opened in Belgrade in 1958.{{cite web|url=https://muzej-jugoslavije.org/en/art/potrosacka-korpa/ |title=The consumer basket |publisher=Museum of Yugoslavia |accessdate=2025-07-05}}

Slovakia

Due to the state monopoly on retail, all grocery stores were government-owned in socialist Czechoslovakia and consolidated together under a single grocery store network called Zdroj. Zdroj owned grocery stores, greengrocers, and butcher shops across the Slovak Socialist Republic. The basis of Zdroj was a grocery store chain privately owned by Julius Meinl, Jedlo Bratislava, and Lahôdky Lamplota that was nationalized in 1948. Following the collapse of socialism, Zdroj was broken up into several regional chains and privatized.{{cite web|url=https://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/tci/docs/RS7-Central%20&%20EE_Impact%20of%20Food%20Retail%20Investments%20on%20the%20Food%20Chain.pdf |title=Central and Eastern Europe: Impact of Food Retail Investments on the Food Chain |publisher=Integrated Food Security Phase Classification |accessdate=2025-07-09}}

Aside from Zdroj, Czechoslovakia also had a network of consumer cooperatives called Jednota that sold food products.

Slovenia

Slovenia is an ex-Yugoslavian republic. As such, its economy was largely state-owned prior to the dissolution of the federation. The state still owns many enterprises, such as the banks, which in turn own businesses such as supermarkets and newspapers.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/12/16/saved-a-state-bailout-slovenes-question-hefty-banking-bill/|title=Saved a state bailout, Slovenes question hefty banking bill|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=5 July 2025}}

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a government-owned supermarket chain known as Lanka Sathosa.{{cite web|url=https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/sri-lanka-to-retain-public-ownership-of-lanka-sathosa/ |title=Sri Lanka to retain public ownership of Lanka Sathosa |publisher=Lanka Business Online |accessdate=2025-07-05}} As of 2015, it was Sri Lanka's only state-owned supermarket chain.{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.lk/article/480967/Singapore-offers-to-help-LAKSATHOSA-revival |title=Singapore offers to help LAKSATHOSA revival |publisher=Daily FT |accessdate=2025-07-05}}

United States

File:US Navy 020813-N-3642E-503 Navy customers look for ripe apples at the commissary located at Naval Station Norfolk.jpg, August 2002.]]

Each branch of the United States Armed Forces owns and operates its own public grocery system known as a PX or exchange, which is open to members of the military, and provides goods and services. The exchange includes military grocery stores known as commissaries.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/errolschweizer/2025/06/27/why-new-yorkers-want-public-grocery-stores/ |title=Why New Yorkers Voted For Public Grocery Stores: Explained |publisher=Forbes |accessdate=2025-07-05}}

During the 21st century, several cities in the United States have operated city-owned grocery stores, including cities in Florida, Illinois, Kansas, and Wisconsin.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/30/business/zohran-mamdani-grocery-stores |title=Zohran Mamdani wants to build government supermarkets. America already has them |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2025-07-01}} Many stores that have received subsidies have closed within a few years or failed to open.{{cite web|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/food-desert-grocery-store-cairo-illinois|title= The Government Spends Millions to Open Grocery Stores in Food Deserts. The Real Test Is Their Survival.|publisher=ProPublica|accessdate=2025-07-08}}

Some federally-recognized American Indian tribes operate their own grocery stores. The Citizen Potawatomi Nation and the Choctaw Nation own tribal grocery stores in Oklahoma.{{cite web|url=https://journalrecord.com/2019/01/23/tribal-operated-grocery-stores-provide-jobs-low-prices-fresh-food/ |title=Tribal-operated grocery stores provide jobs, low prices, fresh food |publisher=The Journal Record |accessdate=2025-07-06}} The Citizen Potawatomi Nation's FireLake Foods in Shawnee, Oklahoma, is the largest tribal grocery store in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://theshelbyreport.com/2023/10/31/native-american-owned-firelake-foods-aims-to-be-community-partner/ |title=Native American-Owned FireLake Foods Aims To Be Community Partner |publisher=The Shelby Report |accessdate=2025-07-06}}

=Florida=

Baldwin Market in Baldwin, Florida was owned and operated by the city. The grocery store was purchased by the city in 2019 and operated until March 2024, when it closed.{{cite web|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2024/02/09/town-owned-grocery-store-in-baldwin-will-close-in-march/72514321007/ |title=Baldwin's unusual town-owned and operated grocery store is coming to a close in March |publisher=The Florida Times-Union |accessdate=2025-06-29}}

=Illinois=

Launched in 2012, the Illinois Fresh Food Fund supported the opening of six grocery stores in food deserts.{{cite web|url=https://iff.org/illinois-fresh-food-fund-generates-34-million-community-investment/|title=Illinois Fresh Food Fund generates $34 million in community investment|accessdate=2025-07-08}} Four of them have closed.

In 2023, Rise Community Market opened in Cairo, Illinois.{{cite web|url=https://news.uillinois.edu/view/7815/2002407495|title=Coalition brings desperately needed grocery store to Illinois' southernmost city|publisher=University of Illinois System|accessdate=2025-07-08}} In the first half of 2024, it averaged less than half its required sales to break even.

City officials in Chicago have considered opening a city-owned grocery store, but instead opted to open multiple city-run markets throughout the city.{{cite web|url=https://www.wbez.org/city-hall/2025/02/12/chicago-plan-open-city-grocery-store-changed-favor-public-farmers-markets |title=Chicago’s plan to establish city-owned grocery store revised in favor of public markets |publisher=WBEZ |accessdate=2025-06-29}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/11/chicago-says-it-hopes-to-open-city-owned-market-instead-of-city-owned-grocery-store/ |title=Chicago says it hopes to open city-owned market instead of city-owned grocery store |publisher=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2025-06-30}}

In 2025, the city of Venice, Illinois announced a plan to build a city-owned grocery store.{{cite web|url=https://www.stlpr.org/economy-business/2025-05-15/venice-gets-2-4m-state-grant-for-much-needed-grocery-store-to-anchor-redevelopment |title=Venice gets $2.4M state grant for much-needed grocery store to anchor redevelopment |publisher=NPR |accessdate=2025-07-01}}

=Kansas=

In Kansas, several grocery stores are community-supported, municipality-owned, or city-run. In rural Kansas, local governments and communities had stepped in to own and operate grocery stores as private owners have retired. St. Paul Supermarket in St. Paul, Kansas, is a municipality-owned business.{{cite web|url=https://www.ruralgrocery.org/learn/publications/case-studies/St_Paul_Success_Story.pdf |title=St. Paul Supermarket |publisher=RuralGrocery.org |accessdate=2025-06-29}}

=New York=

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City in the 2025 election, has called for the creation of city-owned grocery stores in New York City.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/25/zohran-mamdani-platform-policies-issues/84350898007/ |title=What are Zohran Mamdani's policies? Where he stands on rent, city-owned stores, more |publisher=USA Today |accessdate=2025-06-29}} Mamdani's proposal is to have a pilot program where 5 public grocery stores are opened, one in each borough.{{cite web|url=https://theweek.com/politics/mamdani-government-run-grocery-stores |title=Mamdani is promising government-run grocery stores. How would that work? |publisher=The Week |accessdate=2025-07-07}}

=Wisconsin=

Madison, Wisconsin has plans to open its first city-owned grocery store in a food desert on Madison's South Side, operated by Maurer’s Urban Market. Originally scheduled to open by the end of 2023,{{cite web|url=https://madisoncommons.org/madisons-first-municipally-owned-grocery-store/ |title=Madison’s nears opening of first municipally owned grocery store |publisher=Madison Commons |accessdate=2025-06-29}} the store is estimated to open in mid-2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/2024-11-18/promise-kept-city-of-madison-secures-lease-for-maurers-market-on-s-park-st|title=Promise kept: City of Madison secures lease for Maurer’s Market on S. Park St.|publisher=City of Madison|accessdate=2025-07-09}}

Vietnam

Vietnam's socialist government maintains state-owned supermarkets.{{cite web|url=https://en.vietnamplus.vn/pioneering-innovation-the-story-of-state-owned-supermarkets-post304291.vnp |title=Pioneering innovation: the story of state-owned supermarkets |publisher=Vietnam+ |accessdate=2025-07-02}}

See also

References

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