The Market Report

Hunger Mountain Food Co-op Opened: 1996 in current location; 1960 previously Owner: cooperatively owned Previous Tenants: none Cooperative: National Co-op Grocers Location: 623 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier, VT Photographed: August 13, 2025 We've seen more food co-ops in New England than I've posted anywhere else, and that's because the co-op culture is still very strong in this part of the country. Look no further than the Hunger Mountain Co-op in Montpelier for evidence. This co-op has been active since 1960, building the current 20,000 square foot facility in 1996. It's a large and busy supermarket, modern and appealing with an interesting selection of products. The focus in the grocery aisles is on natural foods, but this is definitely a full-line supermarket that also has a large selection of locally-made and grown products. The grocery aisles are on the right side when you enter, with the produce department opposite that on the left side. Behind that all are...

Co-op Food Stores Opened:  2010 Owner: cooperatively owned Previous Tenants: Grand Union (ca. 1960s-2001) > P&C Foods (2001-2009) Cooperative:  National Co-op Grocers Location: 209 Maple St, White River Junction, VT Photographed:  July 6, 2023 It's time to tour another co-op supermarket, but this one has a twist. While many New England co-ops are recently-built facilities , this one has a long history as a grocer. In fact, Grand Union built this 17,000 square foot store back in the 1960s or so, and it appears to have lasted right up until the chain went under. In 2001, it became a P&C Foods, part of the Penn Traffic company, which closed this store in 2009. (Most locations went to Tops; for some reason, this one didn't, possibly because Tops has a limited presence in Vermont.) The building owner then looked for a new tenant, and approached the team running a co-op across the border in Hanover, NH. That co-op reopened this supermarket, fixing it up while rema...

Putney Food Co-op Opened:  1992 in current location; 1941 previously Owner: cooperatively owned Previous Tenants: none Cooperative: National Co-op Grocers Location: 8 Carol Brown Way, Putney, VT Photographed: August 10, 2021 Putney is home to a food co-op like Brattleboro , but the store here in Putney is smaller at only around 7000 square feet. The food co-op opened up here in 1992, moving from its previous location on Kimball Hill where it had been in business since 1941 (it was formed to help small-town residents get food and supplies during World War II). An interesting note on the history from the co-op's website : Carol Brown was the founder of the co-op, and now, the street it's on is named after her. Despite the store's small size , it still has a kitchen, coffee shop, and small cafe. Putney doesn't have a large supermarket, so this store and the other small grocer in town fill the gap. Come back tomorrow to see that one!

Brattleboro Food Co-op Opened: 2012 in current location; 1975 previously Owner: cooperatively owned Previous Tenants: none Cooperative: National Co-op Grocers Location: 2 Main St, Brattleboro, VT Photographed:  August 10, 2021 The Market Report has arrived in Vermont for the first time, and what better place to do it than the Brattleboro Food Co-op! After all, it's close to familiar territory: just across the river from New Hampshire and eight miles north of the MA border. Plus, Vermont is the land of food co-ops, so this is a fitting introduction. This food co-op dates back to 1975, but like many of these New England co-ops, recently moved into a modern supermarket building. This one was actually a new-build facility right in downtown Brattleboro, and the supermarket now spans around 21,000 square feet. It's one of four supermarkets in Brattleboro, with the others (a Market 32, an ALDI, and a Hannaford) located outside of the downtown area. This one has a very helpful col...