People's Grocery of Manhattan  By Abbey Heikes  While many small
and independently run grocery stores have had trouble staying
profitable because of the rise of chain grocery stores and the
recession, People's Grocery in Manhattan, Kan., is an exception.
A key reason to its success may be that the store supplies to
the niche market of organic and local food. Another is that it
is a cooperative.  "The cooperative was created originally to
provide foods that did not exist in the local supermarkets," Ben
Champion, president of the board of directors and a Manhattan
resident, said. "Natural food and cooperative groceries are in a
position to be a lot more flexible than other grocers in town."
Although many of the chain grocery stores in Manhattan have
created small sections of organic products, People's Grocery has
catered to the niche organic and local market by providing
expanded options within this product area. Most of the store's
meats are sourced locally. It also sells locally canned foods
and seasonal pr