Mandela Grocery

Since 2009, Mandela Grocery has been providing fresh produce and grocery staples to West Oakland’s Lower Bottoms neighborhood. They are a worker-owned co-op that is on a mission to nourish the community and fight health issues such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. They do this by making whole and nutrient-dense foods available to the community at a reasonable price.

To fulfill their mission, they make fresh, mostly California-grown produce readily available and affordable through their Fresh Creds program. This program allows individuals to purchase fruits and vegetables at 50% off when using SNAP or EBT credits. Shoppers will also find an impressive section of bulk foods, spices, and coffee. This selection makes purchasing staple dry goods not just affordable, but sustainable too if you bring in your own container. Are you trying to reduce your carbon footprint? Kick your green living up a notch by ditching bags and taking advantage of their bulk dog food! Don’t forget to bring your container to the register first to get it tared out on the scale before filling it up!

In addition to increasing community access to healthy foods, Mandela Grocery supports local artisans and vendors by carrying several locally-made food and personal care items. Check out their list of local vendors for more information. Local food vendor Zella’s Soulful Kitchen is the grocery store’s resident restaurant, offering hot breakfast, lunch, and dinner items, as well as tasty hot coffee drinks. They are open Monday to Friday from 7AM to 6PM and Saturday from 9AM to 2PM.

Stop by this wonderful store for a quick bite before hopping on or heading home from West Oakland BART. Or complete your weekly grocery shopping here. Supporting Mandela Grocery provides jobs with upward mobility and ensures that your West Oakland neighbors always have access to nutritious food!