In northeastern North Dakota, some rural grocery stores have embraced the "co-op" model in trying to stay afloat and address concerns about food deserts emerging in small towns, and a bill making its way through the Legislature could allow other areas to follow suit.
A pilot project in Walsh County involves the Rural Access Distribution Cooperative, where a handful of stores buy their goods in bulk together before they're delivered to each site.
Alexander Bata, president of the cooperative, said it provides several benefits to the operations and the communities they serve.
"We want to make these stores more profitable and more sustainable while supplying better variety and lower prices to our consumers," Bata explained.
He noted in their first year, they appear to be meeting these goals. For example, one store saw a 23% increase in sales. He acknowledged there are some challenges, including finding truck drivers to pick up the supplies. The bill in question would set aside $1 million for other entities around the state to apply for grants if they want to pursue a similar approach.
Source: publicnewsservice.org
Photo Credit: GettyImages-FatCamera
Categories: North Dakota, Business