Weavers Way Co Op Is 2020's Best Retailer, Magazine Says

MT. AIRY, PHILADELPHIA — Weavers Way co-op in Philadelphia has been named the best retailer of 2020 by a publication.

Weavers Way, Philadelphia’s oldest and largest co-op, has recently been awarded the 2020 Retailer of Year by WholeFoods Magazine.

The annual award celebrates the natural products industry and businesses that go above and beyond by enforcing positive change and supporting the communities they serve by collaborating and focusing on local farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs.

With consumer worries and lockdowns having become the new normal, retail has been impacted tremendously in 2020. Innumerable grocery stores and co-ops tirelessly and relentlessly rose to the pandemic challenge and revealed their essential character.

Weavers Way won 2020 Retailer of the Year because of what they did this year and have always done: put people first. Keeping staff and customers safe and healthy within the confines of changing health and safety measures and innumerable operational difficulties brought on by the global pandemic was priority number one for the co-op, which operates a triple bottom line of bettering our community (people), supporting the environment (planet), and making sound financial sense (profit). This year’s top priority was people.

"We are delighted by this honor. This hasn’t been an easy year for any business by any stretch of the imagination," said Jon Roesser, General Manager, Weavers Way Co-op. "We have never taken our driving principles of supporting local farmers, purveyors, the economy, and our customers lightly. We firmly feel that making business decisions that aren’t just based on profit but focused on what’s best for the community and the planet are what our customers so loyal."

Last year, Kentucky and Indiana-based Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets and Wellness Centers were honored.