Insights into Nebraska Rural Grocery Store Ownership

In Fall 2020, University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers started a research project to better understand the perceptions and experiences of transitioning a rural grocery store to new ownership. The project is part of the Heartland Challenge program funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Researchers conducted a survey of Nebraska rural grocers to seek their input and determine future research directions. Sixty-seven of the 216 distributed surveys were completed either electronically or by print. Survey questions pertained to challenges and opportunities owners experienced while operating a rural grocery operation, community support and involvement in store transition, and motivations for continued operation or transition