Posted on 02/19/2006 3:39:51 PM PST by SmithL
Our local Kroger doesn't over charge for milk. But that is the kind of thing they and others do on other items. That kind of stuff only makes people think twice about going shopping in their stores. Many of these stores and other people want to blame Wal-Mart for them having a hard time. But clearly some of the blame should rest on their shoulders.
We have a dual 8 cup cone filter coffee maker. Walmart didn't stock #2 cone coffee filters. Other than that and the heavy traffic I'm pleased about grocery shopping at Walmart. I usually save about 50 percent less than what it normally costs me at Frys.
Safeway dairy sucks.
In the 1930's A&P had almost 16,000 stores in the US. They now have 427, in the US and Canada, with most of the stores in the Northeast.
I'll give you my reason. PRICES THAT ARE OUT OF SIGHT WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER STORES!
Like all chain retailers, every grocery chain since the first Kroger has been predicated on a single idea. Sometimes, that idea allows them to succeed; sometime it causes them to fail.
In the face of outmoded stores and stagnant sales, A&P's "idea" was to increase their profits by increasing the proportion of sales for their private label "house brand" -- at the expense of the national brands.
So, they gave Ann Page and the other A&P labels a disproportionate share of the shelf space and reduced the space allotted to, and the selection of, national brands.
As a consequence, A&P died even faster than they have otherwise succumbed.
Faced with the same problem -- outmoded stores and stagnant sales -- Winn-Dixie turned to private label as their savior, as well. Only their "idea" was to increase the profit by giving all their business to the lowest bidder -- irrespective of quality.
This strategy overlooks the fact that, at any given time, somebody can always have a lower price -- and that people buy products for their value, not their price. Which is to say, if it costs 10 cents less and it tastes like crap, you'll only save the dime once.
As a consequence, W-D keeps getting smaller and smaller. And, soon, Winn-Dixie will join A&P in that great warehouse in the sky...
In Maine, I notice in the towns with a Wal mart, the Walmart food parking side is always full while the Hannafords across the street is empty, even at prime shopping times. I predict it will close within three years.
Once a giant, non union chain buries the union chains, smaller non-union, grocery cooperatives will pop up to satisfy the need of customers seeking a wider choice in branding and source.
Does anyone here know of a chain that sells cases of canned goods. I am looking for a store that sells things like tomatoes and chicken broth by the case, not prepared foods.
In 1970 the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Calif stopped Luckey stores from expanding and opening a series of Warehouse stores called Gemco - why? because they had gained too much market share. Today there are no Luckey Stores. All the stores that don't change with the times get hammered. For every Albertson's that closes a Whole Foods will open...maybe not every one, but many of them. People want choices.
PS - Whole Foods does not allow unions either.
People do want choices but sometimes there is no choice. Think Microsoft and your local cable tv company. Just a couple of examples.
Do you want it for home use or do you have a business.
I owned a child care center for a time in my life and could shop at the local warehouse.
I do think you could get a case of anything at Albertsons just by asking for it.
I know the local IGA (Most expensive prices, in my opinion) do have case sales twice a year.
Those guys really know how to make a buck off the hippydippy Organic scam.
No kidding! I've been to the one in Bedford, MA. Picked up a few things for lunch for two people. $75 !! I could have gone to a swank restaurant for that much!
I do occasionally shop there. Mostly because they have a really rocking selection of cheeses.
But if they think I'm going to be 12 bucks a pound for sirloin because it's 'organic' they got another thing coming and it ain't my money.
L
What Wal-Mart has begun doing the last few years on produce is tie up all the produce in a region with contracts and then when delivery is made they reject it if they don't need it or come up with a flimsy excuse to pay half price. I know this for a fact, they did it to us for the last time. We will no longer grow for Wal-Mart because we can't afford to give it away. They'll only get away with this for so long because the farmers they're screwing will stop growing for them or go broke.
Since California is the leading agricultural producing state in the USA then obviously they must have the lowest food prices.---;<}
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