A co-op grocery store is owned and operated by the people in the local community, and exists to serve its members and the community, not to make a profit for private investors. Co-ops are generally able to operate while following strong ethics and values. Plus, food co-ops connect with small, local and regional farms and food producers that are unable to sell products at a larger grocery store! Finally, since ownership is local, more food co-op dollars stay within the community where they are spent, rather than flowing out to investors and suppliers from far away.