Karma Co-op Grocery Store

Karma is a unique place. It is a small for sure that sells mostly organic (I mean 90%+) and mostly locally sourced from Ontario farmers. It is a true co-op where everyone is an owner. Good for many items but might be difficult to get every grocery item you need. Unique products and organic products at reasonable prices. If you aren't a member you can get a trial membership free for a month to check it out.

I love this co-op. It’s so fun to check out all the eco friendly cleaning products and other products they have. I really like that the food is organic and sold in bulk and you can bring your own containers. It was a walkable distance for me so that was great, and there’s also a bit of parking. I’m not actually in the co-op because I don’t live nearby anymore so I pay the extra cost for non-members, but the cost is marginal and still worth it.

Stumbled on this hidden gem biking by. The staff were so helpful and friendly. I bought some farro (delicious grain that doesn’t spike your blood sugar levels) in bulk which is hard to find at a reasonable price. Wish more people knew about and supported this co-op!

I love karma co-op! The bulk section is unparalled. The eggs and bulk tofu, maple syrup plus kombucha on tap are the best anywhere!

We love Karma Co-op. We actually bought a house in the neighbourhood almost thirty years ago so that we could shop at Karma... and have been ever since. It's always my first stop when I go out to buy groceries.
The produce is fresh and much of it local and seasonal. The bulk is unbeatable; we get all our staples here. There's also a good selection of dairy, eggs and vegan products, as well as a variety of frozen foods. And fresh-baked bread from Lev and pastries from Mabel's. The co-op stocks meat and fish, but I can't give an opinion about them as we're vegetarian and vegan.
But Karma is not just a food store. You'll find a great variety of cleaning and body care product, as well as other useful sundries like reusable water bottles and food containers, and the best socks ever made (they come with a lifetime warranty!)
A couple of things visitors sometimes miss are the bulk nut butters, the bulk spices (so convenient!) and the bulk tea and herbal tea areas.
If you can't find them, just ask any of the friendly staff or a member. They are always happy to help.
The store has a warm, friendly, welcoming atmosphere, so come by and check it out sometime. Well worth repeated visits and highly recommended!

An authentic cooperative for the community to enjoy organic and ethically sourced food and lifestyle products. This little store provides a calm and friendly experience to all its members. The offerings have been honed over 50 years to provide what the community desires. Please join me in supporting this little gem - you will be glad you did!

Community + Local Products = Awesome. An amazing member Co-op with a great vibe and rustic appeal. Awesome prices for members and working member labour hours is fun. Always learning new things about locally available products and zero-waste living. They focus on great products at a great price. Not a focus on superficial aesthetics. I appreciate the honesty in this grocery store.

An amazing place to find very healthy and organic food even in bulk some good things. I did enjoy my visit and experience and was great to spend $$ and good food. Manager Alex was very good and knew his job and help with questions. Do try and pay visit. The layout of the store was sweet and cool to see it. Enjoy people.

Really wonderful to shop at a place where you know you're serving people and the environment with your money. Lots of great bulk items (including tofu and frozen berries!) and good prices on their organic produce. People are super friendly, and it feels good to be there.

Been a member for 23 years! Our house lives plastic free and enjoy local organic food year round with the help of Karma. There are new stores advertising being the garbage and waste free alternative for shoppers, Karma has been doing this since the 1970s. It's a community that keeps on giving. Not a shop goes by that I don't meet friends there, staff or members. We have done numerous price comparisons with other local organic shops and Karma always comes out ahead when one compares entire grocery shops (rather than individual promotional items that some stores use to lure cost savers). Staff are dedicated and friendly and just as passionate as it's members! I highly recommend Karma to anyone!

This place is super cool, the staff is friendly, the location is slightly hard to find. It’s located between a complex of homes and the sign isn’t that noticeable to those who drive.

Love the community aspect of the store, being able to pay for your membership with labour is hilarious. Will be back, considering being a regular. Pricing isn’t too crazy either.

I love Karma Co-op! All the food and household items they stock are high quality, thoughtful selections. You can grab anything off a shelf and be assured that it's going to be a great product that's been thoughtfully produced. I love that you can buy things like really good olive oil or almond butter in bulk, and even bring your own containers. There's also an effort to source things locally, which I love.

Quite honestly, the prices can't compete with big box stores - but, for example, I wouldn't equate a local, pasture-raised egg and a factory produced egg - and so I wouldn't equate their pricing either.

The staff are super friendly and helpful, and there really is a community feel about the whole place. Give it a try and you'll know pretty quickly if it's for you!

I buy the majority of my groceries here even though I don't live in the Annex and there are many supermarkets much closer to my place. Why?? Let me count the ways:

1) Very reasonable prices on organic and/or locally produced food. Mainstream supermarkets usually charge a ridiculous markup on organic produce. Karma, being a non-profit co-op store, doesn't do this. They make organic food significantly more affordable/accessible.

2) Focus on environmental sustainability. You can buy lots of different products (e.g. cooking oils, soap, peanut butter) in bulk, in reusable containers, thereby reducing environmental impact.

3) Atmosphere/community. The store itself is a pleasant place to be. Often the music being played on the sound system is pretty good (if eclectic) and people that work or shop there tend to be pretty sociable. I often strike up interesting conversations about nutrition/food with other members and employees. Sometimes I make new friends when I come here!

I have been a member for exactly 1 year. The food here is amazing and so are the prices. I joined to make buying organic more reasonable. You can get great, fresh local produce that is always fresh and reasonably priced. If you shop smart you can come out with loads of groceries for reasonable prices. Great bulk selection. Working 2 hours a month is easy (I work on the cash) and if you don't feel like working you can be a non-working memeber and either pay 10% on top of your groceries or $18 a month flat fee. If you are serious about your health and about the planet Karma Co-op is a great store to meet your organic grocery needs.

I've been a member for 30 + years. As Toronto's only member-owned food cooperative, we are truly a non profit food store that operates with member labour and superb staff. You won't find glitsy displays, but you will find the best, most affordable bulk food options anywhere. A grocery store that puts food producers and people over profits!

Focus on local and organic food. Excellent bulk selection where you can bring your own bags and containers to reuse. Fresh bread, produce, meat, and dairy, as well as supplements and skin care products. Benefits with membership include being on committees, special ordering items not normally carried in stock but available through distributors, and feeling like a part of a bigger community with a wonderful sense of social connection.

This store has a special place in my heart. One of few places in the city to get so many vegan and zero waste staples like tofu, bagels, chocolate, kombucha, dish soap, frozen berries, and more. Also so many local and organic options if that's your jam. And it's a lovely community to boot.

WE started the Karma Co-operative back in 1972 in the basement of a Dupont St. factory building. OUR first Board Meetings were in the furnace room because the rest of the 4-story building was not heated. We canvassed the whole Annex area and asked folks what they wanted in a co-op supermarket. On opening day we had the 3 products that were the most requested.....bulk organic peanut butter, quality cat food and decent toilet paper at a reasonable price. It is so rewarding after 50 years to see that Karma has stayed true to its "root principles"....community, sustainability, organic and REAL democracy. HAPPY NEW YEAR, Karma Members !!
Richard M. Haney, Ph.D., Ottawa, First President and Chairman of Karma.

I have been a member of Karma for 9 years. Its an amazing place to shop. Wonderful sense of community. Local, organic, fair trade. The staff are friendly and very personable! And they have the best bulk food section in the city.

I've been shopping at Karma for decades and would be lost without it. I love the idea that a community of people have cooperattd to create a not-for-profit place to shop for excellent products.

Our household does virtually all our grocery shopping at Karma, with the occasional exception of specialty items. We see no reason to go elsewhere. In the last couple of months Karma has installed a large number of new bulk bins so that the selection of items in bulk is still larger than it had been. And of course buying items in bulk saves money.