Philly Co-op Highlight: Weavers Way
This Philly Co-op Highlight focuses on Weavers Way, a consumer-owned food market founded in 1973. What began as a small buying club started by a handful of Mt. Airy neighbors has since evolved into a multi-store co-op with over 14,000 member households across the Philadelphia area. Weavers Way currently operates four stores, two farms, and a seasonal Farm Market. Shopping at the co-op is open to the public, but becoming a member comes with special benefits, including access to member-only services like pre-ordering. Most importantly, members are also owners, so the co-op’s endeavors and products directly reflect members’ needs and tastes.
Weavers Way is focused on sustainability and community, prioritizing people and the planet before profit by intentionally leveraging local, sustainable, and ethical food producers. Their work as a co-op is grounded in the Seven International Co-op Principles, which they uphold and promote every day. Their work also includes supporting broader cooperative efforts and educating their members and communities about the cooperative movement.
Membership at Weavers Way comes with the promise of supporting and sustaining local farmers, purveyors, and economies. The co-op’s mission is centered around building community, both within its membership circle and with the communities the co-op serves. Weavers Way also aims to improve the food system through intentional supplier relationships and local sourcing. They support local producers with similar values, who care about minimizing harm to people and the environment.
Members also run numerous committees at Weavers Way, such as the Plastic Reduction Task Force and Food Justice Committee. Any member can join a committee and help to shape the ongoing growth and evolution of the co-op. Committee members typically commit 1-3 hours a month to doing a diverse range of work, including promoting public dialogue, leading workshops, representing Weavers Way at community events, and liaising with partner organizations.
There are Weavers Way store locations in the Philadelphia neighborhoods of Germantown, Mt. Airy, and Chestnut Hill, as well as the Philadelphia suburb, Ambler. At each location, you can find all the major grocery departments available at any other grocery store: produce, meat and seafood, bulk, frozen foods, household products, etc. The Ambler, Chestnut Hill, and Germantown stores also have prepared foods and made-to-order sandwiches. At the Mt. Airy location, where Weavers Way must get creative with how they utilize the limited space available, pet and wellness products are stocked at “Across the Way”, located diagonally across from the main store. There’s also a wellness store at Chestnut Hill called “Next Door”.
The rewarding and equitable workplace that Weavers Way provides directly translates to the dedication and care that member-employees pour into the co-op. This is then reflected in the quality products that line store shelves, and the extensive knowledge that employees have about them. At each store, the retail team fills the shelves with a unique mix of organic, natural, and clean conventional products. With the variety of product types also comes a variety of price points, making Weavers Way a good option for people with different tastes and budgets. Part of their mission is to make healthy, fresh, and local foods more accessible, and they work hard to balance quality with cost. Additionally, unlike many large grocery retailers, Weavers Way does not do variable pricing, and shoppers can expect the same prices for all of their favorite items across each of the co-op’s locations.
Weavers Way stores also stock a large selection of bulk items, including both dry and liquid goods. They have a variety of grains, including gluten-free flours. They also have beans, nuts, honeys, oils, spices, and more! One of their most popular bulk items is a delicious, freshly ground peanut butter. Weavers Way aims to stock nutritious and tasty products that make a positive impact on people’s bodies and the ecosystem while accounting for the values and needs of the co-op’s members.
The WeCircle at Weavers Way is one example of how the co-op practices and promotes sustainability. There are three sub-programs of WeCircle. WeFill applies to bulk shopping. When shoppers bring their own reusable containers, they receive a 25¢ credit. WeReturn is a circular reuse program. When shoppers purchase certain bulk, deli, and prepared food items sold in returnable containers, they pay a $3 deposit that is refunded to them when they return the containers. WeCycle is a partnership between Weavers Way and Rabbit Recycling. This is a new program that’s coming soon. With WeCycle, the deli containers used by Weavers Way to hold prepared and in-house packed foods will be recycled.
Across all of their grocery departments, Weavers Way is committed to stocking local goods. Through their focus on local items and building relationships with local producers, they collectively support the local economy. Weavers Way defines “local” as being produced within 150 miles of Philadelphia, and around 300 vendors that meet this criterion have items on the co-op’s shelves. Half of what Weavers Way spends on product sourcing is paid to local vendors.
Together through cooperative practices, Weavers Way members take control of their food and where it comes from. The food represents the values of the co-op, along with its members’ hopes and aspirations for their communities and the Philadelphia region. Members are committed to each other, to the co-op, and to their communities. They work hard to stock the stores with the highest quality, most delicious, and most affordable food items. They maintain a welcoming atmosphere at each of the co-op’s locations, operating under values of trust and respect. The co-op is open and receptive to questions, feedback, and inquiries from its shoppers and members. Shopping at the co-op is a unique experience, and each of its locations reflects the culture and specialness of the neighborhoods they are in.
Stop by Weavers Way on your next grocery trip! The Germantown, Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, and Ambler locations are open every day, 8 am – 8 pm. The Farm Market is open Tuesday and Friday, 11 am – 7 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm. The Farm Market is also seasonal, so check Weavers Way’s Instagram for the latest updates!
Weavers Way also frequently hosts fun and interesting events. Some of the upcoming ones are listed below.
- Enjoy the Dog Days of Summer at Weavers Way Mercantile! | August 2, 2025 12 pm – 2 pm
- Profit and Prosper Networking Mixer at Germantown Outreach Office | August 16, 2025 1 pm – 3 pm
Go to the Weavers Way calendar to view all events and see more details