Weavers Way Co-op’s Vendor Diversity Project recently appeared in a New Hope Network article, which featured the Philadelphia co-op’s focus on local foods and the work they are doing to improve diversity among vendors and products.

According to Kathleen Casey, Weavers Way’s development manager, the main component of the co-op’s work is to help launch diverse businesses.

“We help vendors ready their product for market,” Casey said. “We provide some seed money and promotional support. We assist them in a range of areas, from product quality and ingredient choices to labeling and marketing.”

Once product is ready for the shelves, Weavers Way then helps promote the new vendors. Although Casey admits the number of vendors is still relatively small, and the work is intense and not always successful, they’ve still launched approximately eight vendors who are now selling products in their stores.

Weavers Way is currently opening its fourth store — located in Germantown, a diverse neighborhood in Philadelphia. Their vendor diversity coordinator, Danielle Mitchell, is working with the co-op’s outreach and retail staff to identify hyper-local, diverse vendors so they have a strong product mix in the new store.

As part of the Vendor Diversity Project, the co-op also partnered with local magazine publisher Grid Magazine for profiles featuring local Black vendors, including Amira’s Delites, Hank’s Cinnamon Buns, Vicki’s Candles and Urban Essence Soaps.

Read another article on how Weavers Way’s Vendor Diversity Project is building business and community.