Press Release: City-Owned Grocery Stores “are for everyone” says Community Food Advocates

New York (April 12, 2026)---Today leaders from Community Food Advocates, an impact policy organization dedicated to an equity-centered food system, issued the following reaction to Mayor Mamdani announcing plans for the first city-owned grocery store: 

“There is universal appeal for this model because it’s for everyone," said Liz Accles, Executive Director of Community Food Advocates. “Of course this will be transformational for New York families with the lowest incomes but it will also support solidly middle-class families who increasingly struggle to put food on the table.” 

“City-owned supermarkets can be a game changer for New Yorkers struggling with rising grocery costs,” said Francis Yu, Director for Supermarket Access at Community Food Advocates. “To succeed they must be built with, and accountable to, the communities they’re meant to serve, delivering real affordability, quality, and stronger local food systems.”

City-owned supermarkets present a major opportunity to tackle food affordability in New York City, but in order to succeed it must be built to scale over time. With grocery prices rising sharply in recent years, the imperative is for the City to open stores that create a system that delivers accessible, meaningful, and sustained savings for New Yorkers. 

The administration’s initial plan—to launch five stores with capital and operating support—marks an important first step. But achieving the deepest affordability must consider several key factors. First, scale is critical: larger networks unlock better wholesale pricing, meaning a five-store pilot must be part of a broader expansion strategy. Second, sustained public investment is essential. Minimizing retail markups requires ongoing operational funding to cover operating costs. Third, efficiency matters, from streamlined store design to a focused product mix, both of which reduce labor and inventory costs. Finally, centralized City purchasing and distribution can significantly lower costs while strengthening local and regional food infrastructure. 

There is a clear model for success. The federal military commissary system demonstrates how public investment, scale, and centralized operations can deliver consistent savings. These same pillars will be necessary for the City to deliver on the promise for deep and sustained affordability.

Media Contact: Francis Yu, Director of Supermarket Access, francisyu@foodadvocates.org, 646-868-2830

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Community Food Advocates utilizes high-impact public policy that ensures all New Yorkers have access to healthy, affordable, culturally affirming foods within a sustainable and equity-centered food system.