Series shares steps to help communities maintain long-term, vibrant grocery stores
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Grocery stores are critical businesses in rural communities, so what happens when a grocer is ready to retire or move on? Who takes over?
Put another way, how can rural communities ensure their grocery stores continue operating and providing essential services long-term?
These questions and more were answered in an eight-part webinar series, “Keeping Groceries Alive: Successful Ownership Transitions for Rural Grocery Stores,” which ended in March. All recordings are now available to the public for free at www.ruralgrocery.org.
The webinar series was hosted by the Rural Grocery Initiative, a program supported by K-State Research and Extension to provide resources and help sustain independently owned rural grocery stores.
“This webinar series reached individuals in more than 30 states across the country, including grocers, prospective grocers, economic developers, and community members who care about food access and the vibrancy of their towns,” said Rial Carver, a program manager with the Rural Grocery Initiative. “This shows how relevant this topic is to so many people from different backgrounds and different places.”
The series covered a range of topics related to grocery business transition planning, from market assessments to community-supported ownership models, with a goal of helping grocers and community members plan ahead so that they aren’t faced with sudden grocery store closures.
Erica Blair, a program manager with the Rural Grocery Initiative, said that reopening a grocery store can be a major uphill battle. “Developing a business transition plan is a proactive step that prevents store closures in the first place, which is better for everyone involved,” she said. “Grocers benefit through greater financial stability, and communities benefit by maintaining a source of healthy food.”
The recordings now available online include:
• Grocery Business Transition Planning Overview.
• Understanding Grocery Ownership Models.
• Preparing for Business Transition.
• Assessing Markets & Community Needs.
• Planning your Business.
• Funding the Transition.
• Recruiting Store Managers.
• Mastering Grocery Store Nuts and Bolts.
Blair said a second phase of the project is underway. Participants from seven rural Kansas communities have been accepted into the Grocery Business Transition Mentorship Program, which provides customized technical assistance related to grocery business transition planning. Program participants have been paired with mentors who will provide support by identifying needs, clarifying goals, and developing action steps.
The project is presented in partnership with NetWork Kansas, the Kansas Rural Center, the Kansas Center for Business Transition, the Food Co-Op Initiative, and K-State Research and Extension. It is sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation through the Heartland Challenge.
FOR PRINT PUBLICATIONS: Links used in this story
Grocery Business Transition Mentorship Program, www.ruralgrocery.org/events/webinars_and_workshops/KGA_Mentorship_Program.html
Heartland Challenge, www.kauffman.org/our-grants/heartland-challenge-rfp
For more information:
Erica Blair
[email protected]
Rial Carver
[email protected]
