New York City-owned grocery stores plan to offer 30% discount on core items
The Mamdani administration said city-owned grocery stores will offer discounts on essential goods that could save shoppers about $90 a month, or roughly $1,000 a year.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Monday that a core basket of everyday groceries will be 30% cheaper at the city’s five municipal grocery stores when they open. The basket will include all fresh produce, meat and seafood, along with roughly 20 additional categories of pantry staples, dairy and refrigerated goods.
The discount will apply to all regardless of income, with prices locked in and predictable rather than fluctuating week to week.
Mamdani plans to open five city-owned grocery stores, one in each borough, with the first opening at Hunts Point in the Bronx by the end of 2027. Another will open in East Harlem. The mayor has said all five stores will be open by the end of his first term (close of 2029).
Under the plan, operators will be required to stock items across key food categories and offer clear, reliable pricing on the shelf, with prices for core items locked in monthly and updated periodically to reflect market conditions.
The mayor also issued a request for proposals from qualified grocers or firms to serve as operators of one or more of the grocery stores. The selected operator will be responsible for day-to-day store operations, including merchandising, staffing and adherence to strong labor practices. In collaboration with New York City Economic Development Corp., operators will also identify and pursue opportunities to launch a "N.Y.C. Groceries" private label across a variety of product categories.
“Every week, New Yorkers walk into a grocery store hoping the prices haven’t gone up again,” said Mamdani. “A trip to the grocery store shouldn’t spell dread for New Yorkers. That’s why we are guaranteeing a 30% discount on the most common and most critical groceries for families across the five boroughs — including eggs, milk, chicken and fresh fruits and vegetables. In a city that’s defined by unpredictability, you deserve stability — no matter what aisle you’re in.”
