The Whitewater Grocery Co-Op will hold a special meeting for owner-members on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Whitewater Library, 431 W. Center St. The meeting will include updates from the Board of Directors on the organization’s activities, finances, and future planning, while providing members an opportunity to help shape the co-op’s next
steps.
The meeting comes at a pivotal time for the organization. Since forming in 2017 after Whitewater lost its only grocery store, the volunteer-led co-op has grown to more than 900 owner-members and has spent nearly a decade exploring opportunities to establish a community-owned grocery store.
During that time, the organization navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, evaluated more than 30 potential locations, pursued multiple development opportunities, and worked with community partners, grocery development experts, and the City of Whitewater to determine the most viable path forward.
The opening of ALDI in 2024 addressed part of Whitewater’s grocery needs, but co-op leaders say community discussions have continued about access to a broader range of grocery options. A 2026 Community Development Authority market study also identified additional grocery opportunities within the city.
At the same time, grocery cooperatives across the country have experienced significant changes. Inflation, higher construction costs, labor shortages, and shifts in consumer shopping habits have prompted many cooperatives to rethink traditional store models. National grocery organizations such as the Food Co-op Initiative have also begun revising development resources to reflect these new realities.
Most recently, the announcement that Anderson Ashton, Inc. intends to develop a Piggly Wiggly grocery store alongside an early childhood education and childcare center on Whitewater’s east side prompted the Co-op Board to reassess its long-term direction.
“The grocery landscape in Whitewater has changed considerably since our organization was founded,” said Vice President Brienne Brown. “We believe it’s important that the future direction of the Co-op be guided by the people who own it. This meeting is an opportunity for members to help determine what role a community-owned grocery cooperative should play in Whitewater moving forward.”
In addition to the August 12 owner-member meeting, the board plans to host community listening sessions later this year to gather broader public input about the future of a cooperative grocery model in Whitewater.
All owner-members are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion.
