Published: November 07, 2009 06:59 pm      

New Albany working toward grocery co-op

Organizers hope for second meeting in December

The initial meeting for New Albany residents interested in starting a grocery co-op drew more than 50 people, inspiring organizers to continue researching the prospect of opening a market downtown.

Andy Mahler, board president of Lost River Market and Deli in Paoli, spoke to the crowd of New Albany residents Tuesday at the Carnegie Center for Art and History.

Guy Terrell, who is leading the grocery co-op push locally along with New Albany resident Dan Chandler, learned from Mahler it could take a few years to get a grocery co-op running.

It will also take investments of time and money from New Albany residents.

“Dan Chandler and I will meet next week after doing some more research, the next logical step is to decide on a mission statement, form a steering committee and things like that,” Terrell said.

He would like to schedule another meeting in early December if interest remains to start a co-op.

“I think that’ll be the crucial meeting, to truly see what kind of interest we’re going to have,” Terrell said.

Funding a market and financial feasibility study for a New Albany co-op will be an early step in the process, Chandler said.

“Grocery co-ops have thrived in cities much larger and cities much smaller than New Albany,” Chandler said. “We know a co-op is feasible — the question is how to best set it up.”

Chandler found a firm in California that specializes in analysis of grocery co-ops. Their study would cost about $9,000.

“It also will give us realistic targets for membership and capitalization,” Chandler said. “Grocery co-ops work best when members/owners can fulfill at least 90 percent of their grocery needs at the co-op.”

The emphasis of a New Albany co-op would be local produce and meats, Chandler said. Traditional items such as soap and condiments would also be available at the market.

“The goal is to be a full service grocery, not a specialty shop,” Chandler said.