Author: Abhishek Chari, Chronicle Editor

Dear Karma Co-op Members & Discerning Supporters,

An independent, democratically-driven, inclusive, non-profit, co-operative food store that continues to balance competitive pricing with ethical and environmentally conscious product sourcing, helps all its shoppers reduce waste with its bulk offerings plus ‘bring your own container’ program (especially relevant since October 2022 is Canada’s 1st Circular Economy Month, which grew out of Waste Reduction Week), and occupies a unique, historically significant position in Toronto’s grocery and culinary landscape since the 1970s…sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?

Karma is that dream. It is ours, and it is very real. Real enough that more than fifty years after its founding, it is still diligently serving its Member-owners and local community. The fiscal and social equity that its Members and Supporters have built since 1972 has connected customers, local food producers and distributors in a mutually beneficial relationship.

It now faces a financial crisis. Since the Board communicated the state of Karma’s finances last July, revenue continues to trail behind operational costs by a significant margin. If the situation doesn’t improve, Karma Co-op will need to close down within the next 4-8 months. 

To survive the next few months, increase revenue and flourish in 2023, Karma needs our help! This is the time to band together, to contribute what we can and give our beloved co-operative enterprise the support it needs to re-emerge strong and resilient from this difficult time. 

Make Karma the first-stop destination for all your grocery shopping, and tell all your friends

Continue to take advantage of the competitive pricing available to you at Karma 

Reach out to the new Board to offer your help with its strategic Karma revitalisation initiatives

Register for a special Members’ meeting to decide on a new membership structure and remember to take part in the survey that is informing the direction of these changes

Keep tabs on the co-op’s sales reports, and if you find the time and the mental bandwidth we’d love to feature your thoughts about Karma Co-op in this newsletter

In such difficult times, the most important thing is hope. Without it, we can never find the motivation to work towards a better tomorrow. And what better place to find hope than in the green shoots that grow past the snow and signal an end to winter. 

On behalf of the Chronicle Team, including Alli Floroff,

Abhishek Chari, Chronicle Editor.