Zohran Mamdani Says New City-Owned Grocery Stores Will Sell Groceries 30% Cheaper

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is continuing his effort to make groceries affordable. With his latest initiative, Mamdani announced that New York’s five new municipal grocery stores will provide a basket of everyday groceries at a reduced price. According to a statement from the mayor’s office, the groceries will be 30% cheaper.

What is the plan for N.Y.C. Groceries?

As he unveiled the city’s plan for affordable groceries, Mamdani stood at a register and scanned plantains with QR codes linked to the city’s project, N.Y.C. Groceries. The goal, according to the N.Y.C. Groceries website, is “to bring down the cost of everyday groceries and household staples, strengthen neighborhood food access and demonstrate a new role for public sector leadership in food affordability.”

The city describes its latest initiative as “a first-of-its-kind model in major U.S. cities.” These city-owned supermarkets feature “private grocery store operators with a mandate for lower prices, improved access, and clear standards for quality and accountability,” the website states.

The N.Y.C. Groceries stores, available to all New Yorkers, work with existing stores to provide affordable fresh produce and essential foods. All fresh produce, meat and seafood will be included in the basket, along with pantry items, dairy products and other refrigerated goods.

Where are the N.Y.C. Groceries located?

With $70 million committed in capital funding for construction, the city is opening five N.Y.C. Groceries stores, one in each borough. New Yorkers who shop at any of the stores can qualify for discounts regardless of income. The mayor said New Yorkers can cut their average grocery bill by about 15%, which equals about $90 a month, or $1,000 per year.

“Once a month, our five city-run grocery stores will set prices for this core set of goods at 30% below typical retail prices. No exceptions, no gimmicks. The savings will last for the entire month,” Mamdani said in a statement. “No weekly fluctuations, nor sticker shock at the checkout line. Not for our seniors living on fixed incomes, nor for the parents who rely on a regular supply of apple slices to keep toddler tantrums at bay.”