20 February, 2026

This week, we came across a bold headline: New York is getting the first-ever completely free grocery store that is stocked with pantry staples and open to all. No checkout, no loyalty card, no catch. And if you’re thinking that sounds too good to be true, then you’re not alone.  

Crypto-based prediction platform Polymarket is behind the idea, though details about the store’s location and how it will be managed remain, for now, unclear. While the logistics (and longevity) of the pop-up are still murky, it sparked a conversation at Good Business about different models tackling food access. 

Co-ops have long been one answer. In Brooklyn, the Park Slope Food Coop has offered members groceries at lower cost in exchange for a few hours of work each month, a kind of “your time is money (saved)” model that’s been running for decades.  

Then there are brand-led efforts. In the UK, Community Shop, run by social enterprise Company Shop Group, offers discounted groceries alongside skills and support programmes for those experiencing food insecurity. McCain has backed this initiative by funding the Eastfield Community Shop in Scarborough and donating products to help families access affordable food and community support. 

Supermarket chain Iceland has taken a different tack, offering interest-free micro-loans of £25–£100 through Iceland Food Club, so households in need can buy essentials without falling into high-cost debt. 

None of these initiatives come with the headline sparkle of “everything is free”, but they’re quietly reshaping how communities access food with dignity. The impact is real, and in a world of rising costs, that might just be the recipe for change.  

By Sirisha Venkatesh