Our Story
quality • local • community • democracy • planet
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Wasatch Food Co-op (WFC) is Salt Lake City’s first community-owned grocery store, founded with the mission of providing affordable, local food while fostering a stronger, more resilient community. Born from the efforts of a small group of dedicated locals in 2009, WFC has steadily grown its member-owner base and worked towards making the vision of a cooperative grocery store a reality.
Opening in the vibrant Liberty Wells neighborhood in 2025, Wasatch Food Co-op will connect members with over 500 local producers, offering a wide variety of fresh, locally and sustainably sourced products. WFC will operate as a full-service grocery store, but it is not just about groceries: it’s about building economic resilience, reducing food insecurity, and promoting community-driven growth.
By linking neighbors and producers, WFC creates a space where food access and local economic support are priorities, all while fostering an inclusive, member-driven environment.
Salt Lake City has never had a true co-operative food market such as we are founding. There have been like-minded stores at times, such as the former Whole Earth Natural Foods on 2nd Avenue and Nature’s Way grocery on 9th and 9th, which both operated in the 1970’s. And there are stores that specialize in certain goods, such as health food, food supplements, and bulk. However, generally these were and are not member-owned and governed businesses.
Wasatch Cooperative Market was begun in 2009 as a founding organization with adherence
to the Seven Cooperative Principles. It has been growing its member-owner base diligently ever since, and thoughtfully worked to expand their numbers and accounts while preparing professionally to one day open a community-serving food co-op.
With the signing of a lease on a building, we are now at the threshold of the storefront stage with full realization of our dream within sight: opening our doors for business! It’s been a long road but we have made community along the way. The most important chapter of Our Story is when it becomes YOUR story!