Welcome to the Rural Grocery Initiative
The Rural Grocery Initiative, housed within K-State Research and Extension, aims to sustain locally-owned rural grocery stores to enhance community vitality and improve access to healthy foods by identifying, developing, and sharing resources that support grocers and rural communities.
Rural Grocery Succession Planning Monthly Webinars
Grocery stores face many uphill battles, from competition, to slim profit margins, to high operating costs. But another often-overlooked challenge affects not only grocers, but also entire communities: business transition. In other words, who will take over the grocery store once the owner is ready to move on?
Creating a transition plan helps ensure the grocery store continues operating, even after the owner exits the business. This is crucial in rural communities, where grocery stores are anchor institutions.
Join us every third Thursday to learn strategies for creating a prosperous and sustainable ownership transition. Register here.
Apply to the Grocery Business Transition
Mentorship Program!
The Grocery Business Transition Mentorship Program provides rural Kansas grocers with in-depth, customized technical assistance on a range business transition topics. This program gives grocers and community leaders the opportunity to work alongside a mentor to help plan the future of their grocery store.
Applications are now open through July 31! Click here to learn more.
Celebrating the distinguished career of Dr. David Procter
Dr. David Procter, co-founder of the Rural Grocery Initiative and professor of Communications Studies at Kansas State University, has retired after over 30 years at K-State. Dr. Procter left an indelible mark on the field of rural grocery across the country and will be missed! Read more on his distinguished career here.
