A Unique Business Model

Community Market is as much driven by a desire to run an equitable, democratic business, as it is driven by our ethics and views around food. From day one in 1975 we've held some sort of collective, alternative business model. We've never had an owner or been publicly traded. The exact manner in which we operate our business has changed over the years. Community Market started with a very egalitarian model, where everyone earned the same pay and few decisions could be made without the full consensus of all employees. Under this business model, morale dropped and long hours were devoted to arguing minutia. Slowly, changes were made: a graduated pay scale was added, responsibilities and authority were assigned to managers and a board of directors was formed.

Currently, the 35 or so employees of the market elect the board of directors from among our ranks. Any employee that has been with the company more than 1,000 hours or six months is eligible to serve on our board. The board of directors is charged with serving and implementing our mission statement and makes major guidance decisions for the company. Additionally, our board of directors oversees the General Manager, who handles day-to-day decision making. Through staff meetings and memoranda employees are kept abreast of board activity and can report back to the board with concerns.