'Grab a little or a lot': How bulk food has helped Rainbow Grocery in SF thrive for 50 years

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- In a supermarket world where Amazon owns Whole Foods, and private equity investors own Safeway and Albertsons, Rainbow Grocery Cooperative has succeeded by sticking to what its founders envisioned 50 years ago.

The San Francisco supermarket was founded in 1975 by activists of the People's Food movement. They formed a worker-owned collective that sold local, organic food in bulk. Fifty years later, that mission lives on.

"We're a worker-owned cooperative. There's about 170 of us and everyone who is here is either an owner or on the way to becoming an owner, and everyone has an equal vote in the decisions we make about running the store," said cheese monger Gordon Edgar, who has worked at Rainbow Grocery for 31 years.

Yesenia Ochoa grew up going to Rainbow Grocery. Now, she works in the human resources department.

"You get to choose what department you want to work in. Each department is autonomous. We manage ourselves, we decide the products we are going to carry, we decide what our schedules are going to look like," Ochoa said.

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The owner-employees share the profits at the end of the year.

Rainbow Grocery is unique in other ways. The produce has been organic since the beginning -- even before certified organic even existed. And it doesn't sell any meat, not even chicken stock.

"We don't sell meat or fish because it was founded by a vegetarian. We've respected that 50 years on," Edgar said.

The store has about 300 different cheeses. There's always someone at the cheese counter willing to suggest a cheese or offer guidance.

And while some supermarkets don't have a direct phone number to call, Rainbow Grocery still has a full-time customer service counter.

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"We process return, help customers find things they need in the store. Our customer service is above board -- but all stores should be like that," said Xian Reddick, who has worked nearly three decades at the store.

Bulk is the heart and soul of Rainbow Grocery.

"You get to grab the jars yourself. It's really fun, like being a kid at a candy store. Grab a little or a lot. If you want an ounce, you buy an ounce," Ochoa said.

Some customers bring their own jars or bags to fill up from the large variety of grains, herbs, teas and coffees.

"The bulk section is amazing. I bring my own containers, because I believe in recycling. You save a lot of money instead of buying a pound of this and a pound of that," said Lynn, a customer who was filling up an old Sun-Maid raisin container with organic raisins.

The store also has an extensive selection of vitamins and beauty products made with non-toxic chemicals, but the main attraction is the bulk food section.

"Our bulk section is a quarter of the store or more. Chefs come in for spices, because you can't find it anywhere else. We got wet bulk, dry bulk, refrigerated bulk," said Anna Costa Rowan, who is the buyer for books and gifts.

Rainbow is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a block party this Sunday.

The free event will have live music, giveaways and more than 30 Rainbow Grocery vendors will be on hand to demo products.

Costa Rowan created some of the 50th anniversary swag, including a new tote bag with a design by revolutionary graphic artist Emory Douglas and a colorful 1,000-piece puzzle that showcases products sold at the store.

The 50th anniversary block party will be on Sunday, Aug. 17 from noon to 6 p.m. on 14th Street between Folsom Street and Trainor Street in San Francisco.