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NYAGS opposes Mamdani’s proposal for govt-run grocery stores
The initiative threatens the livelihoods of thousands of mom-and-pop stores and could disrupt the food distribution network of the city, the organization said.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 31, Jul 2025
- 16:21 EDT
- 96
Zohran Mamdani/ NYAGS / Wikipedia/ Facebook
The New York Association of Grocery Stores (NYAGS), a coalition of local New York City grocers, opposed mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s proposal to open government-owned and operated grocery stores across the city.
The association warned that the initiative would destabilize New York’s private grocery sector and threaten the survival of thousands of small, family-run businesses that form the backbone of the city’s food distribution network
Also Read: TAAF condemns xenophobic and Islamophobic attacks against Mamdani
“The proposal to establish government-run grocery stores undermines the very fabric of our community's food access,” said David Schwartz, director of NYAGS. The association emphasized that these stores are not merely retail outlets but essential community institutions that have supported neighborhoods for generations.
Schwartz noted that local grocers operate under some of the most challenging conditions in the country, citing high taxes, rent, and congestion pricing. “Despite these challenges, local grocers have consistently risen to the occasion, keeping their doors open during crises like COVID-19 to ensure New Yorkers never went without food,” he said.
NYAGS also raised concerns about additional threats to the industry, including illegal market activities such as untaxed street vending and the sale of contraband tobacco, which they say undermine compliant businesses.
Calling government entry into the retail grocery sector “inefficient and disruptive,” NYAGS warned that such interventions often lack the operational expertise required to manage complex supply chains, especially in a city like New York.
“The unique challenges of running grocery stores in New York City require experienced hands and local knowledge, which our member stores provide,” Schwartz added.
NYAGS has urged city leaders to work with private retailers to address the systemic issues plaguing the industry rather than introducing government-run competition. The association called for policies that bolster existing grocery businesses and help ensure their sustainability in the long term.
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